1944 Toplet, Romania, Ju52 crash near Orsova

[researcher111]

Larry

Thanks for the update, I don't have this books and I will order it. However I have over 380 publications , private
publications and manuscripts related to 15th AF as well interviews conducted in the past .

Going through this huge stuff I could not find any reference to US fighters over Orsova . If at page 92 the author indicating
fighter claims over Orsova and are dated 4/16/44 and if this can be verified then it updates any of the publications I have
available because according to those and Charlie Pinson 82nd didn't reach as far as Orsova on that day and 1st FG were
involved near Brasov. I will update in due course .

[Larry deZeng]

More.................

Night 15/16 Apr 44: 83 Wellingtons dropped 135 tons of bombs on Turnu Severin marshalling yard. Explosions and fires were observed. One Ju 88 was destroyed and 3 Wellingtons were lost.
16 Apr 44: Brasov, Turnu Severin, Belgrade-Zemun, Nis missions. Details as I provided in an earlier post. New: “During the above operations 140 U.S. Lightenings, 39 U.S. Thunderbolts and 46 U.S. Mustangs provided escort. Three enemy aircraft were destroyed. Two U.S. Thunderbolts and one U.S. Mustang were lost.”

Source:
Duty Group Captain’s Daily Resumé of Air Operations, Serial No. 1585, SECRET, Air Ministry, Whitehall, 19.4.44, pages 2 and 3. AFHRA Microfilm Reel #A5353.

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by researcher111

Larry

Thanks for the update, I don't have this books and I will order it. However I have over 380 publications , private
publications and manuscripts related to 15th AF as well interviews conducted in the past .

Going through this huge stuff I could not find any reference to US fighters over Orsova . If at page 92 the author indicating
fighter claims over Orsova and are dated 4/16/44 and if this can be verified then it updates any of the publications I have
available because according to those and Charlie Pinson 82nd didn't reach as far as Orsova on that day and 1st FG were
involved near Brasov. I will update in due course .

Whoa! I did not say "over Orsova". I said in the Orsova - Turnu Severin area, and that should be interpreted in the widest possible sense based on my reading of the author's words which, in turn, were based on his reading of the 15th AAF operations summary (opsum).

L.

[researcher111]

Yes no prob thats what I meant Orsova - Turnu Severin area. Will you please indicate which fighter group was in the Turnul Severin area and which claimed what in that area ? Thanks in advance
PS : Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis was published in 2013 , all my material is dated 1945 to 2007 . I am very curious on the updates and on how objective they are .

[Larry deZeng]

16 April 1944:
On the Turnu Severin – Belgrade – Nis mission, “The 82d missed the rendezvous with the bombers and strafed trains. The fighters encountered several enemy bombers during the flight and claimed three destroyed, with two later confirmed: one each to the 1st and 82d. The 325th lost two Thunderbolts and the 31st FG a Mustang, mistakenly shot down by a B-24, as bomber gunners were not yet familiar with the new P-51s.”

Mahoney book, pp.92-93.

It seems that the 1st FG is the most likely participant needing further research to find out exactly what was claimed and exactly where.

[researcher111]

Thanks Larry, sofar this is more or less in line with my material with one exception related to the location of both aerials . I ordered the book and will revert as soon
as I have new details. Thanks again for your efforts

[Dénes Bernád]

Larry, on 16 April, a "He 111" was claimed by 2nd Lt. Robert G. Griffin of the 97th FS, 82nd FG, 30 m E of Turnu Severin, at noontime.

[Larry deZeng]

Dénes -

Thanks. That should help researcher111 eliminate the 82d FG claim. He still lacks info for the 1st FG claim.

L.

[muggs_ro]

Hi Egbert, this is the info i have from a DLM in Rumanien crash report :

10.5.1944 Ju52 Wnr. 501325 / Halter : OKM Berlin / Ort : Toplet 10km N Orsova in a hill area called Culmea Neagra / In folge niedriger Wolken-unreadable Bodenberurhung Aufschlagbrand 100% / 8 tote - 10 schw. ( verwundet ? ) / The wreck was recovered by Bergungskompanie 2/2 on 6.6.1944 and sent to Wiener Neustadt

Since me and other friends happen to be involved in WW2 aircraft archaeology and due to the remote location of the crash site I think we will give it a go this year, I will keep you posted on the results. Culmea Neagra should be easy to find as beneath it there is a cave which is often researched by speleologists.

[Larry deZeng]

In folge niedriger Wolken-unreadable Bodenberurhung Aufschlagbrand 100%

Crashed and caught fire as a result of hitting the ground due to low-lying clouds.