Help! Aircraft crashplace B-24 Lt. Panity, FW-190 Fw. Kurt Gren, 23.08.1944

[Kurtl12]

During a mountaintour through Austrian alps I recently found some interesting reports about an aerial combat on August 23rd, 1944. A B-24 was shot down by a Focke Wulf 190 and caught on fire just before it crashed at mountainous terrain. A little memorial place indicates 5 dead airmen out of two planes during lunchtime. So I guess also the Focke Wulf crashed close to the B-24. According some investigations it could be the B-24 of Lt. Panity and the Focke Wulf of Fw. Kurt Gren.

Does anyone have details about this aerial combat?

Regards and many thanks!

Kurtl

[FrankieS]

if really B-24, must be one of these


7957 440823 B-24 42-78171 451 Markersdorf AF Wien
7956 440823 B-24 42-95379 Extra Joker 451 725 Whiting Kenneth A Markersdorf AF Wien Turnitz A
7958 440823 B-24 44-40196 ?44-3019? 451 727 Markersdorf AF Wien Sankt Aegyd am Neuwalde A
8324 440823 B-24 42-7763 451 Markersdorf AF Wien
7966 440823 B-24 42-78471 451 Markersdorf AF Wien
8326 440823 B-24 42-51334 451 Markersdorf AF Wien
7965 440823 B-24 42-78523 451 Markersdorf AF Wien
7974 440823 B-24 44-41163 454
8766 440823 B-24 41-28689 461 767

[FrankieS]

Casualties (KIA) B-24 crews for 23.08.1944

451 BG, 724 BS:
Philip W. Pratt, Jr.

454 BG, 738 BS:
James W. Milne
Ivan G. Nichols
George M. Paddock
Simon V. Prochin
Herman Seelig

[FrankieS]

Nachname: Gren
Vorname: Kurt
Dienstgrad: Feldwebel
Geburtsdatum: 08.09.1920
Geburtsort: Wien
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 23.08.1944
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Wiener-Neustadt / NÖ
Kurt Gren ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Blumau (Österreich) .
Endgrablage: Block 4 Reihe 7 Grab 370

[Kurtl12]

Thanks alot for your help. Regarding further investigations it was B-24G 42-78171 of 2nd Lt. Glenn Stephens PANYITY who died during the crash. 3 other crewmembers of his 10 men crew also were KIA. MACR 7957 states: "attacked over IP, tail section came off at Ball Turret, noticed parachutes leave the ship, after which it went into a spin, losing both wings on the descent."

I wonder if there are any pictures of this B-24G available?

[FrankieS]

2 LT Glenn S. Panyity
ID: O-821350
Hometown: Bradford County, PA
Status: KIA
451 BG 725 BS
Hometown: Williams Street, Bradford
Killed in action 23 August 1944
Over Markersdorf, Austria
Age: 23
Group Burial: Section A, Site 12
Grafton National Cemetery, Grafton, WV
Repatriated: 12 May 1950


Markersdorf Airfield was the target, but also the crashplace???

[Horst Weber]

Frankie !

The responsible Luftgaukommando (LGK) reports for this day the following crash-locations of B-24 (time / place or area / LGK-ME-report):
-1100 Area Neuberg ME 2016
-1100 North of Bruck, Steiermark ME 2018
-1150 Forest near Slemdorf, Steinberg Community, n/e Pettau KSU 2017
-1230 St. Agyd, Nieder Donau ME 1974
-1230 Ferrara ME 1976
-1230 Bruck Mur ME 2049
-1233 Bischofsstetten ME1971
-1300 Near island Herso ME 1993
-1300 Eibenkogl Steiermark ME 2034
-1330 St Agyd Niederdonau ME 1973
-1330 Area Annaberg ME 1975
-1330 Annaberg ME 1972

Unfortunately, no aircraft's USAAF s/n shows up for this particular losses that day in the LGK day-by-day arranged catalogue.

Maybe, this list of Aug. 23rd, 1944 Liberator losses can help you.

All the best !

Horst Weber

[FrankieS]

Cheers !

Thank you Horst!!!

[lilsis]

Hi,

23.08.1944: Markersdorf, 1 loss 461st BG - B24
(mission 88)

At the same time with the 461st B.G. were usually the 49th Bomb Wing associated Groups 451st and 484th in the employment. (sorry for my bad english)

LG "sis

[Horst Weber]

Good evening FrankieS & lilsis !

Frankie, sorry, but I didn't note one B-24 this day.

- 1100 Area Neuberg Austria, Karl Alpe, 2 km southwest of Mapwald ME 2015

It's possible, that this case could also be connected to ME 2016

lilsis, unfortunately, the location Markersdorf doesn't show up in the catalogue of the LGK reported B-24 losses for this day in particular. Could any of the listed locations be close to Markersdorf ?

Best regards !

Horst Weber