Erich Paczia 6./JG 53 B-17 ("Stirling") Claim, 4.12.42

[Nick Hector]

Film C.2027/I Anerk: Nr.108 pertains to a claim for a victory over a B-17 claimed by Erich Paczia on 4.11.42 at 1138hrs. Can anyone assist me with a matching 9th AAF loss or was this simply an overclaim?

[Russell]

Nick,

2 were shot up, one landed at base the other force landed in Allied lines. It was written off and salvaged. The one that landed at base crashed on 7 Jan 43 when being flown to the rear area for repairs.

Thats all I am saying until MAW Vol 3 comes out.

Russell

[kaki3152]

And that will be when?

[Russell]

Mid next year approximately

[Nick Hector]

Russell!

Haven't heard from you since my time at Wagga during my service. Glad to see that you're still out there.

Thanks for this advice, I will update my database accordingly and keep hanging in there until AHOTMAW 3 comes out.

Nick

[Alex Smart]

Hello Nick,
For what its worth,

"Fighters Over Tunisia" has a brief note under the 4th December 1942 to the effect that Fw. Hafner and Lt. Rúbell claimed P-38's and Fw. Grasser one of the bombers.

Freemans "The B17 Flying Fortress Story" has on page 82 - 41-24368, "Maverick" - Ass 352BS/301BG Westover 7/42; Podington 6/8/42; Tafaraoui 26/11/42; Maison Blanche 5/12/42; C/l Bone {6m} 8/12/43 (should read 42) w/Brasher; Sal.
and
41-24369 "Special Delivery", Ass 32BS/301BG Westover 6/7/42;Podington 6/8/42; Tafaraoui 26/11/42; C/l Maison Blanche, Alg. 5/12/42; BD {5m} Bizerte 15/12/42; Sal.

Dick Drains "5th Bomber Wing" has on page 112 -
41-24368 - "The Maverick" - 301BG/352 BS - Original a/c. Severe battle damage 4 Dec 42 at Bizerte on its sixth mission. Crash landing at Bone. Salvaged. Pilot- Harold Brasher.
and
41-24369 - "Special Delivery" - 301BG/32BS - Original a/c Assigned 23 August 42. Crash landing 4 Dec 42. Battle damage Bizerte 15 Dec on its fifth mission. Salvaged. Pilot ?

Pilot possibly Wesley C. Sleulin ?
But according to the report on the 301st Official site Sleulin was pilot of 41-24350 "Dumbo" and this is the a/c he and his crew were in on 7th January 1943 (MACR 16242)( Dick Drain has 9th January 1942) when it crashed , all kia.

Of the 70 a/c of the 97th and 301st BG's and 4 a/c of the 3rd PRG these two are the only ones that I could find that fit the 4th December 42 that you seek.

Others lost in December 42 were-
42-5715 - "Sooner II" - 97BG - 18/12/42 - Pilot John Nichols.
41-24442 - "Little Eva" - 97BG - 23/12/42(Bombed on Base).
41-24413 - 97BG - 26/12/42 - Pilot Thomas H. Borders - MACR 16150.
41-24532 - 97BG - 26/12/42 - Pilot Claude Lawrence.

Alex

[Nick Hector]

Hi Alex,

Many thanks!

Say, if you look at the Joe Baugher entries for 41-24368 and 41-24369, it kind of becomes understandable why I missed entering them into my database...

Cheers
Nick

[Nick Hector]

Alex, (or anyone else) can you help me with the following?

Quote from your post:
Others lost in December 42 were-
42-5715 - "Sooner II" - 97BG - 18/12/42 - Pilot John Nichols.
41-24442 - "Little Eva" - 97BG - 23/12/42(Bombed on Base).
41-24413 - 97BG - 26/12/42 - Pilot Thomas H. Borders - MACR 16150.
41-24532 - 97BG - 26/12/42 - Pilot Claude Lawrence.


Here's my question:
Was 42-5191, crew of Capt. Fred Dallas WIA and 7 crewmen returned also lost on 18 December, or have I got that confused somehow?

[udf_00]

42-5191 :
Here logged as lost on 9 DEC 1943, Levanto [Italy, on the coast, N of La Spezia].
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/7835