Dakota pilot, Yugoslavia, 1944

[Alex Smart]

Hello Tyler,
Yoy probably have this info already, but just in case.
The aircraft 41-23811 was hit by Bf109G-6 fighters of JG27/I , 3 crew killed and 7 pow according to Joe Baughers website.
Crew were:
P. 2Lt. Richard W. Bridges
CP. 2Lt. Delmar F. Phelps
N. 2Lt. Max A. Stiefel
B. 2Lt. William M. Schuler
E. T/Sgt. Robert L. Disalvio
RO. T/Sgt. Donald O. Bridges
BTG. S/Sgt. Kenneth O. Garrett
AE. S/Sgt. Jacob Rosenstein
G. S/Sgt. Charles M. Sasek
TG. S/Sgt. George W. Mercer
Garrett, Mercer and Rosenstein were the three killed. The remaining seven all became POW.
Were the two Bridges related ?
Also there was another death in relation to 41-23811. On the 18th March 1943 S/Sgt. Lucius M. Balsley was hit in the back while over the target. He died from his injuries on the 29th March 1943 and is interned at Cambridge plot D-6-69.
Refs:
Joe Baugher's website; NARA pow lists; ABMC; USAAFdata.com; Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces vol 1&2.

Alex