First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

Hello all
On 2nd. of July 1944. B17 G-35-BO (42-32103) crashed into Adriatic "aprox" 10 miles SSW from Dubrovnik (Croatia). One crew member got killed and others (9) were rescued by Catalina from flight B - first emergency rescue squadron. They took of at 14:10, landed at sea at 15:10 and landed at base at 17:55. Fighter cover was 4 p-38. One crew member had a broken leg and surgical technician got into dinghy and put splint on broken leg and then crewmember got onboard.
Crew members of Catalina was Mork, J.H Pilot, Ruckman, Thomas Co -pilot, Conlon, Redmond - Navigator, Craig, P.E. - flight surgeon, Birard, L. - engineer, Brown, D.C. - engineer, Pettle, Kenneth E. - Radio, Rhodes, E.C. - Radar.

Do we know which Catalina (serial) was it and names of rescued crew ?

report from NARA.

as always thanks in advance
Antun

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

Perhaps take a look here: https://www.301bg.com/b-17_42-32103.cfm

Regards,
Leendert

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

Thanks Leendert,
It seems that we have the exact date and operations, however crew of Catalina is different ???

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

As far as I know it was PBY Catalina, N0.958, Capt. Ruckman and Lt. Milburn.
Gabor

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

I find this very strange...

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

The old 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron site appears to be gone but most? of it can be found on the Wayback Machine. Take a look at the rescues for June 4 and July 2.

https://web.archive.org/web/20161014...rshistory.html

You may have combined/confused some of the rescues.

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

Now I see, it was mix of pages from different operations.
Glad to have confirmed that.
You are great as always.
Antun

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

Do you have the complete s/n Gabor? Just 958 (and assuming we are dealing with a USAAF OA-10 or OA-10A) leaves us with two possible aircraft 43-47958 and 44-33958.

Most likely the former, but I have no access to any record cards.

Cheers
Stig

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

Hi Stig, it was 44-33958 on the Adriatic. See post-war pic of this PBY. (Tactical No.958 on the nose was the last 3 digits of the serial, so probably that was recorded.)
Gabor

Re: First emergency rescue squadron 02nd. of July 1944 rescue
 

Thanks Gabor

Much appreciated! :)

Cheers
Stig