B-24 crash captured on film in 1944 over Hungary

[HGabor]

Hi Folks,

Original Royal Hungarian Newscast footage on Allied bombing of Budapest, Hungary in the summer of 1944, including the shocking moments of the crash of 15th AAF, 55 BW, 464. BG, 776 BS. Consolidated B-24H-15-FO “Liberator” S/N: 42-52402, Red “U”, “Rough And Ready”, piloted by 2Lt. Paul J. Kirkland (POW) on July 30, 1944.

(Plane ID in the movie at 1 min. 29 sec. is identified for 99.99%, MACR 11716)

The crew was:

2Lt. Paul J. Kirkland (O-803216, POW)
2Lt. Michael Wojtish Jr. (O-620113, POW)
2Lt. Earl A. MacDougall (O-820113, KIA)
2Lt. Leslie J. Schwier (O-744417, POW)
T/Sgt. Angelo R. Pietronogro (32229576, POW)
T/Sgt. Arthur J. Brisiatte (16080551, POW)
S/Sgt. Robert S. Williams (33568835, POW)
S/Sgt. Ruehl L. Asbridge (37287394, POW)
S/Sgt. Leonard I. West (37617867, POW)
Sgt. Fred H. Cook (42021195, KIA)

Their pilotless plane crashed in 33. Rákó street, Budapest, XI. District.

Other burning plane in the footage is Olive Drab Boeing B-17F-50-DL of 15th AAF, 5th BW, 301st BG, 353. BS S/N: 42-3344 on June 27, 1944. White “C”, marking of 353. BS is clearly visible on the tail.

The crew:

1Lt. Walter W. Lyon pilot (O-807476, +) – he fell on the roof of 26. Nagykőrösi road…
1Lt. Robert L. Hamel Co-pilot (O-680209, POW)
2Lt. Richard H. Willoughby navigator (O-700192, +) – he fell in front of 21. Nagykörösi Road
1Lt. John F. McCormick Jr. (O-669353, POW)
S/Sgt. Joseph J. Naeder (32711950, +) – he fell on the roof of 26. Nagykőrösi road…
S/Sgt. Billy S. Deason (14162091, POW)
S/Sgt. Joseph B. Senger (37096802, POW)
Sgt. James H. Hollibaugh (39410890, POW)
S/Sgt. Robert J. Heintz (+, 36808224) - He fell on the edge of Kispest (Budapest, XIX. District).

(The natural metal B-17G and B-24 are still unidentified.):

http://filmhiradok.nava.hu/watch.php?id=5837

Cheers,

Gabor

[Khorat]

I remember the Archiv in Koblenz had a lot of pictures from the B-17 (parts in the wooded area) also from one of the other crashed planes showed here.

Sorry - several years ago I see them there.

khorat

[HGabor]

Here is a montage of the plane and the film. Typical parts can slightly be seen, however the main evidence is the landscape and the known crash site of 42-52402.

Gabor

[HGabor]

OK, the natural metal B-24 wreck in the movie is probably B-24J-5-FO, S/N: 42-51524 of the 15th AAF, 304. BW, 459. BG, 758. BS on Csepel island, Budapest-S, downed by flak on September 18, 1944. Plane exploded mid-air.

Crew was:

1Lt. Claude A. Rhodes pilot (O-819271, POW)
1Lt. Willard Graham co-pilot (O-667695, +) - died in hospital the next day
2Lt. Manfred A. Gwinner navigator (O-2057800, POW)
S/Sgt. William J. Vitale gunner (32496661, +)
Cpl. James J. Jacks eng. (38435085, +)
S/Sgt. Charles H. Huber radio-op. (13108577, +)
Cpl. Malcolm L. Jennings gunner (32855901, POW)
Cpl. John C. Scott gunner (14177094, POW)
S/Sgt. Joseph L. Collins photographer (31421347, POW) - he landed in the Danube river and was rescued and captured by a boat.

The 304th BW black diamond emblem can be seen on the horizontal stabilizer.

Gabor