John P Belton 449th BG MiA or not?

[Russell]

Hello to everyone

On July 5 1944 on a raid to Toulon, 2/Lt John P Belton and his crew in B-24H 41-29274 ‘The Wise Virgin” has a initial report in the 449th BG records as being missing in action. However, the aircraft is supposed to have survived, and there is a photo of it in the Groups web site. However I can find very little trace of the crew and/or what happened to them.

Belton serial number was 0 808509 as far as I can read. I cannot find any MACRs.

Any ideas on what happened to them? My suspiicion is they got back to Corsica and werre very late in reporting in.

Regards

Russell

[Buckeye30]

Hi Russell. On 5 July 42-64367 "Queen of Hearts" (716BS) flown by 1/Lt. Floyd P. Haywood crash-landed on Corsica after the Toulon mission; bad nose damage and one crew member killed. Rest of crew returned to Grottaglie.
"The Wise Virgin" was probably 41-28616 in 716BS which was lost on Regensburg mission 22 Feb. 44, crew bailed near Bari and returned. Pilot Lt. Cecil E. Kinerd. An original plane.
As per Dan's "B24bestweb" site 41-29274 was "The Wise Virgin II" (716BS) arriving 20 March and survived 33+ missions. Pilot 1/Lt. C. R. Dacey (formerly Kinerd's co-pilot).


2/Lt. John P. Belton was 0-808503.


Nick

[Russell]

Thanks Nick

The 449th records are rather more detailed than most groups. Each mission has the summary documents, i.e which a/c were on the sortie, the a/c number and the pilot, and flimsy debrief report for each crew. They note what happened to Haywood.

The big lead that somethings are unknown about the 5 July mission is from the 14th FG and 82nd FG mission reports. The 82nd FGs report note they saw three parachutes emerge from a B-24 breaking up over Toulon and another B-24 exploding. The 14ths is even more interesting, it reports they picked up a lone B-24 and escorted it to Corsica where it ditched in a small cove. They then saw five men standing on the beach looking at two men lying on the sand. I do not know if the Belton crew might be either the exploding B-24, I know who the breaking up B-24 is, or the ditcher. There are other groups with possible a/c ditched but I have yet to be able to confirm anything outside the code numbers for two B-24s last seen heading for Corsica, but I do not yet know if they landed safely or not. I have a reliable contact that sent me data showing four aircraft lost, one each from the 449, 464, 465 and 485 groups, but no serial numbers.

Still trying to work out the possibilities. Thanks for your considered reply.

Russell

[Buckeye30]

This might be the one you know already.
From the 464th inventory this was 42-52484 (776BS) "Free Delivery" 2./Lt. E.A. Grunewald; exploded 4km. from Toulon.
Couldn't find any 465th or 485th though.
Regards
Nick

[Russell]

Hi Nick

Belton survived the war, I should have mentioned. Regarding the 485th all I have is two B-24 a/c 812 and 127 attacked Toulon Submarine pens, and were reported to have left formation and posted missing, but there is no MACRs etc, so I assume they both got back. However 127 was last seen escorted by P-38s, so it may be the one the 14th FG observed it ditch in a cove south of Pazzola Pt. and run up onto the beach, at least seven survivors seen on the shore.

You are correct re the 464th known loss being the Grunewald crew.

Any mission where bombers had the option to land in Corsica appears to have caused the 15ths reporting system to fail. The 12 August is the same, multiple losses reported most of which had only landed damaged or to refuel.

Regards

Russell

[Buckeye30]

Russell. The 2 B-24s in 485BG with serials ending 812 and 127 were 42-51812 went down in the Adriatic 19 Feb. 45, out of fuel and 42-51127 lost Flak, Germany 27 Aug. 44.
Did you see the 55th.Wing Summary 56 for 5 July? 3 lost, 1 over target, 1 over Italy, 1 in sea. None missing.


460BG. none. 38 dispatched, 33 returned base.
464BG. 1 to Flak. 39 dispatched, 27 returned base.
465BG. 1 lost crew safe (Flak?), 37 off, 35 returned base.
485BG. 1 ditched. 33 off, 29 returned base.
There were 12 early returns from Wing, rest landed at friendly fields.
There were 2 more B-24s ending 127 and 812 but not Fifteenth AF.


Nick