|
Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Missing B-24
Hello
I am looking for any info about one bomber from 454th BG. This bomber took part during bombing mission over Oświęcim (Auschwitz) in 18.12.1944. I know only the last three numbers this bomber (.....244). Pilot probably was LANGE. Summarizing: - B-24 from 454th BG - Number No ..-...244 - pilot LANGE Anybody help me with this B-24 ???? Janusz |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Missing B-24
Henry A Lange is listed on this page as the pilot of 42-95244.
http://www.454thbombgroup.it/TOTAL%20LIST%20DEF.htm http://www.454thbombgroup.it/AAIR%20...s/42-95244.jpg There is an accident report on 23- OCT 44 for that plane with the pilot as Lange showing on aviationarchaeology.com http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...24&offset=2425 Last edited by RSwank; 1st December 2018 at 22:50. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Missing B-24
Maybe a misidentified number ?
12/18/1944 454 BG 44-49259 - MACR 10918 and 42-52264 - MACR 10686 Both MACR's are available on Fold3. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Missing B-24
Hi
Thanks for te respond. RSwank It could be this plane. Pilot is correct , number 42-95244 probably to. Unfortunatelly one thing does not fit. This plane was loses 23.10.1944. My plane no 244 with pilot LANGE was lost 18.12.1944. In my opinion it is impossible loses the same plane in the short time. Only one thing could be interprete this.Plane 23.10.1944 had emergency landing , not crashed. After few days crew returned to base on the same plane. Alex Smart No all is correct. This two plane (44-49259, 42-52264) was also loses in 18.12.1944. My plane no 244 was third plane which lost 454th BG in this day. |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Re: Missing B-24
According historical records (books) 46 B-24's from 454 and 459, one from 455 and two B-17
from 301st participated on that raid again Oil Refinieries at Auschwitz and IG Farben escorted by some fighters from 1st and 82nd FG's . On that day only two 454th BG Libs were lost ( Capt Freyer's crew and Lt.Wolf's crew ) Lt Lange did not participate on that mission nor I can determine on how you concluded that Lange was on that mission with a plane number 244 as a third loss of 454th BG which is not recorded anywhere but your own. Alex K |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Missing B-24
Please look at the picture. Yellow line
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Missing B-24
Hello Fenix,
Thanks for providing the paperwork. Seems that it confirms the a/c lost were in fact 3. May I just point out though that your blue line is directed to the wrong a/c. It should be directed to Wolff's.264, not Norton's 264. But Wolff is also shown with a/c 165 ? Alex |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Missing B-24
Have looked briefly at Joe Baugher's lists and the following a/c.
"244" 42-52244 - 453BG - Sweden April 9th '44, MACR 3291. 42-78244 - MIA June 25th,'44. 42-95244 - W/O ground accident October 23rd '44. 44-40244 - ? Anyone have other "244" B24's ? |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Missing B-24
Alex, it appears there were two pilots named Wolff in the 454th.
Carrol O Wolff and John K Wolff. John K Wolff was killed in 42-52264 when he tried to crash-land the ship. There was also a pilot named Benjamin J Wolfe. I think 42-95244 had an accident on 23 Oct 44 but was not written off then. It was repaired and continued to fly and eventually returned to the US and was scrapped by the RFC. I think "possibly" what happened on the 18 Dec 44 mission was that the plane was damaged and landed at some other location, maybe VIS. It was "initially" missing but then returned to base later. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Re: Missing B-24
Hello, We are on the same trail
I found that 737 Sqn had - A. Wolf ( one "f" ) and a J. Wolff While the 739 the had an R. Wolff. Your ref for 42-95244 being scrapped back in the US please ? Also just for clarity, can you confirm that the numbers shown in brackets after the serial numbers is the 'plane in Squadron' number as displayed on the fuselage sides ? If that is so then it would make the following, Wolff 264(34) a 737 Sqn a/c ( A or J.Wolff ?). and Wolff 165(113) a 739 Sqn a/c ( R. Wolff ). |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
claims of Japanese and Finnish | GMichalski | Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces | 6 | 18th March 2022 16:33 |
Mosquito pilots MIA in Germany - Nidersachsen area. | KrisJG3 | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 7 | 15th June 2018 19:07 |
USAAF plane - Missing Caribbean - 24 Jan 1943 | Leendert | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 6 | 20th February 2017 00:43 |
Boris Safonov real claims and german losses | GMichalski | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 27 | 16th May 2013 10:52 |
Missing Aircrew Reports -The Full Story | kaki3152 | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 3 | 31st March 2011 14:54 |