From a B-24 crash site near Potenza. Some idea?

[SALERNO1943]

We find a Pratt & Whitney label with serial n. 41-43759 come from a B-24 crashsite near Potenza. This aircraft was shot down in 1943. Do you can help us to identify aircraft with this engine? Thanks.

http://www.archeologidellaria.org/in...ch=22082;image

[Tony Kambic]

All of the MACR I have ever viewed have the engine numbers. If you believe this may have been a 'missing' aircraft for which an MACR was created, then any clues to narrow to a group, date, markings, etc. would help.

[SALERNO1943]

Originally Posted by Tony Kambic

All of the MACR I have ever viewed have the engine numbers. If you believe this may have been a 'missing' aircraft for which an MACR was created, then any clues to narrow to a group, date, markings, etc. would help.

Thanks. I think this engine number was of a B-24 shot down at 17 july or 16 august 1943. Do you can verify if in the MACRs of that date there is a engine number like this? Thanks!

[Tony Kambic]

For starters:

Date Type Tail-Number Unit Location MACR
430716 B-24 42-40649 376 SICILY 183
430716 B-24 42-40236 376 ITALY 184
430716 B-24 42-40110 376 ITALY 185
430717 B-24 42-63763 44 ITALY 149

[Tony Kambic]

From Joe Baugher:

42-40649 (376th BG, 514th BS) shot down by Fw. Uwe Krais in Bf 109G-6 of JG 3/10. 5 km E of Tricarico, Italy Jul 16, 1943. 1 KIA, 9 POW. MACR 183.

42-40236 (376th BG, 513th BS) shot down by Fw. Heinrich Steis in Bf 109G-6 of JG 27/4. near Potenza, Italy Jul 16, 1943. 6 KIA, 4 POW. MACR 184.

42-40110 (376th BG, 513th BS) presumed shot down by Fw. Anton Wöffen in Bf 109G-6 of JG 27/5. 10 km SW of Altamura, Italy Jul 16, 1943. 3 KIA, 6 POW. MACR 185.

42-63763 (44th BG, 67th BS, "Lady Fifinilla") hit by AAA, then shot down by a Bf 109G-6 near Avellino, Italy Jul 17, 1943. 3 KIA, 5 POW, 2 evaded. MACR 149.

[Tony Kambic]

I misread: Aug 16:

41-23817 (44th BG, 67th BS, *Suzy Q*) shot down by Bf 109s and crashed
near Reggio di Calabria, Italy during mission to Foggia, Italy Aug 16, 1943, Italy. MACR 2445 and 3261. 10 KIA All crew killed.

42-40606 (44th BG, 506th BS, "Timba-A-Ah") shot down by Bf 109G-6 flown by Uff Fritz Willinger of JG3/12 Aug 16, 1943 near San Fele, Italy. MACR 15549 and 2451. 5 KIA, 5 POW.

42-23778 (44th BG, 66th BS, "Jenny/Lady Luck") shot down by Uffz
Friedrich Scheer in Bf 109G-6/Trop of JG 53/8 at Ruoti, Italy Aug 16, 1943. MACR 3150 9 KIA, 1 POW.

42-40373 (44th BG, 68th BS, "Natchez-Belle") shot down by fighter
Aug 16, 1943, Italy. MACR 3558. 3 KIA, 7 POW.

Wondering if these wrecks have been found and marked, or if there are remnants still there? My father's B-24 (Timba-a-ah!) was shot down Aug 16, 1943 near Potenza, Italy. I've long contemplated trying to locate the wreck site. BTW the engine serial numbers on Timba-a-ah! did not match those posted by Salerno.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Have looked in Fold3 and was confused by some of the macr numbers not matching the a/c serial numbers while a couple did not return any results.
One however did show no engine numbers. The others that are listed had numbers starting with "42", while we seek "41"-43759.
Are the dates given written in stone or like many others are only vague remembrances ?
Alex

[SALERNO1943]

Thanks Alex. Please do you can post a copy of MACRs without engine serial numbers? Perphaps someone can be our aircraft! The date of 15 to 18 august 1943 is almost sure because a eyewitness referr that in 15 august born his son and in the same days (1 or 2 after) aircraft crashed. Also another eyewitness referr to 18 august. Thanks for your precious help.

[vathra]

Originally Posted by SALERNO1943

The date of 15 to 18 august 1943 is almost sure because a eyewitness referr that in 15 august born his son and in the same days (1 or 2 after) aircraft crashed. Also another eyewitness referr to 18 august. Thanks for your precious help.

Regarding dates witnesses tend to be wrong by months, even few years later. In this case it is more precise, but you should still consider bigger period.