[manniw]

Hello together ,
I need the help of the experts again:

On 09.04.1945 the C-47 A 42-23604 "SAD SACK" of the 27th Air Transport Group / 86th Air Transport Sq. took off from France for a supply flight to the areas in Germany already occupied by the USA. It was carrying 5,000 pounds of fuel and was reportedly en route to Eschwege. The last sighting was "335 km west of Frankfurt" (according to MACR).

The aircraft probably came under flak near Cologne and crashed near Porz-Wahn.
The crew: T/Sgt Joseph A. Filkins . 14036533 is considered missing
T/SGT John T. Huddy, 35420885 buried in Wahn-Heide
1st Lt John D. Lampman , O-713798 buried in Wahn-Heide
1st Lt. Paul E. Mellers, O-737824 buried in Wahn-Heide

To date, the crash site is unknown, but it must have occurred here on the right bank of the Rhine.
At that time the left side of the Rhine was already occupied by American troops (505th PIR / 82nd ABD). And they were watching the right side of the Rhine very closely, yet there is no mention of a C-47 crash in the daily reports. German documents on the crash do not exist either. Eye-witness reports or post-war records of the crash do not exist either.
The area on the left bank of the Rhine was not taken by American troops until 14/15 April!
Also very mysterious: on 09.04.1945 four more American soldiers were buried in Wahn-Heide! Were they passengers on board ? According to MACR they are not listed.
They were:
Reginald D. Wood, 32734207 ?
1st Pvt. Harvey Larson, 37564390
Lawrence Blackwell, 33672273
Eward A. Cummings, ?

Who can tell me something about the flight mission of the crew ? Who has information about the crash site ? Who can tell me about the whereabouts of T/Sgt Filkins ? Who has further information on this crash.

Thank you in advance and best regards
Manni