MACR 6431

[HGabor]

Hi Folks,

I am looking for information on the fate of a downed 459. BG B-24H crew, plane S/N: 42-51174, lost on June 26, 1944, MACR 6431. The number of POWs (and maybe KIA) could help to identify the crash site, based on some police crash-reports. Any details would be much appreciated. Thanks,

Gabor

[Alain57]

Hello Gabor ,

It seems that 42-51174 came down in Austria.

Alain

[Peter Kassak]

I list the crash site at Drassburg in Austria,
pilot R. Stodden
758.BS

[HGabor]

Thanks Folks, but...: according to the police reports a lot more planes came down in Hungary this day, than the ones mentioned in the MACRs... Some MACRs are wrong this day, for sure. Planes crashed as far as Lake Balaton-N... In some cases MACRs say 'last seen' while these planes could easily fly many more miles even without crews before actually hitting the ground... Since identified planes from the 304. Wing crashed in the Gyor-Bratislava area, and the groups of the wings usually flew together, I think these 'mysterious' plane crashes are linked to the 459, and 454. BG... I think their MACRs are incorrect. That's why I am asking... So how many POWs?????

Gabor

[Peter Kassak]

Flew together does not mean die together (or be shot down) Flak was in Vienna, Bratislava, Gyor but also fighters were present in that area...I think that for 26.6.1944 no assumption can be done due to the great scale of the air combat

[HGabor]

Yes, you are right, but somewhere we should start... Let's begin with the easiest options.

Gabor

[Schenck]

I don't know if this will help you in your research:

MAAF summaries say 24 B-24s LIA, 10 MIA and 2 B-17 LIA
MASAAF summaries break down of losses:

98th BG........2 LIA [1 E/A, 1 FLAK]
376th BG......1 LIA
449th BG......1 MIA
450th BG......2 LIA [FLAK just before target]
451st BG......1 LIA [E/A]
454th BG......3 LIA [E/A]
455th BG......8 LIA [E/A], 2 MIA
456th BG......2 MIA
459th BG......1 LIA [FLAK and E/A]
460th BG......3 LIA [E/A, 2 exploded over target]
461st BG......1 MIA
464th BG......2 LIA [FLAK]
484th BG......1 MIA
485th BG......1 LIA[FLAK], 1 MIA

I think the only discrepancy with MACRs is 2 a/c of 459th BG somehow omitted in MASAF report.