USAAF aircraft 19-8-1942 (Sudan)

[paulmcmillan]

"Between June and the end of the year, 398 Lockheed and Martin medium bombers--including 120 B-34's, 153 A-28's, 45 B-26's, and 80 A-30's--
were ferried to British forces in Africa by crews of Pan American Air Ferries or by American and British military crews."


http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/I/AAF-I-9.html

B-34 = Lockheed Ventura
A-28 = Lockheed Hudson
B-26 = Martin Marauder
A-30 = Martin Baltimore

Methinks it might be a Ferrying accident to one of these...

[Henk Welting]

Not in my files of mentioned a/c types, or the ferried a/c were still under USAAF serials.
Regards,
Henk.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Henk & Paul,

From the AB book "The BAC & Lend-Lease".

There seem to have been No B17's.

B24 losses destined for the RAF AL596(Date?),41-1128 (Date ?), FL957(1943), BZ964(Date ?), EW213 and BZ936 which crashed in the USA as 42-64013 and AL569 which crashed at El Obeid on 25th November 41. While 41-1119, FK216(28-5-42) EV980(1944), EW148 (1944), EV894(1945), EV936(1944) and BZ935(1944) crashed after export.

Marauder Mk.I , 8 crashed after export, they were FK113(Date ?), FK119( MIA 17-8-42 [delt with]), FK125(Date ?), FK129(1943), FK140(Date ?), FK148(Date ?), FK368 (Date ?)and FK369 (Date ?).
Marauder Mk. II, three were lost after export, FB454(1943), FB455(1943), FB457(1943).
Also lost after export were MArauder Mk.III's HD419, HD605 and HD664 all lost in 1944.

Nothing said on Marylands.

Kittyhawk ET583 retained after damage loading in USA, became CL-26 November 42.

Hudson's three crashed after export, EW880 (October 42), EW938 (Date ?) and FK499 ( in sea October 42).
Ventura's five were lost after export, FP590,JS900,JS955,JS971 and JS801, all lost in 1944 but FP590 said to have gone to SAAF, Not in "85 years of SAAF" lists.

Martin Baltimore's again there were several marks so for ease I will just list the serials and date where known.
FA111 (Date ?),117(Date ?),121(1943),124(1943),125(1943),137(1943),140(Dat e ?),156(Date ?),168(Date ?),177(1943),182(1943),214(Date ?),218(Date ?),227(1943),314(1943),330(1943),334(Date ?),340(1943),354(1943),363(Date ?),392(1943),427(1943),448(1943),487(1943),520(194 3),524(Date ?).
FW323(1943),377(1943),395(1943),409(Date ?),472(1943),511(1943),533(1943),560(1943),640(194 4),680(1944),693(1944),733(Date ?),828(1944).

Boston's lost were
Mk.IIA's - BZ200(Ireland),209(October 1942),215(Greenland),222(UK),238(Brazil),245(1943),247 (December 1942),272(1943),277(November 1942),287(Iceland),294(Newfoundland),295(Date ?),300(1943),306(1943),385(1943),396(1943).
Mk.IV's - BZ404(1944),549(1944).
Mk. V - BZ593(1944).

All this seems to again point to a US aircraft or perhaps an aircraft on a Ferry flight to Egypt for MAAF or Persia for India or Russia.

Alex

[Henk Welting]

Hello Alex & Paul,

Have sent a written request to the DHH (Directorate of History and Heritage) of the NDHQ (National Defence Headquarters) at Ottawa. Will keep you informed upon any result.
Regards,
Henk.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Henk,
A/c was a Hudson IIIA.
Problem still though.
serial number is given to me as 41-23592.
This a/c would have been , under the BAC lend-Lease BW730.
Details in AB BA100-BZ999 2nd edition has BW729-775 as To China.
AB's "The BAC & Lend-Lease" has on page 99, has-
"209 Aircraft
198 arrived at destinationsby air or sea: 2 crashed after export;BW636 638.
8 crashed in US: BW435,440,455,459,637,714,773,774: 1 on special duty: BW456 for tests at Ottawa: 1 Balance of a/c exported by air.
130 to 8OTU Debert, Canada: BW381-384;399-408;410,412,423,430-434,436-439,441-444,447-454,457,458,460,614,616-635,639-660,682-682,685-698,700-713,715-720,722-724,768,770-772,775-777.
7 to 45 Group RAFTC BW409,445,684,699,769,411,616 crashed.
49 to Australia and China: BW413-419,421,661-681,736-755.
12 to New Zealand:BW756-767 (NZ2037-2048)
RAF Serials
BW361-777
AAF Serials
41-23223 - 23639 (417 serials allocated to contract)
Some a/c were taken over by USAAF".
So Do we know how the Hudson's originally meant for the RAF, then held by the USAAF(?) or RCAF(?) were eventually ferried to China ?
Would it have been down to Brazil, across the Atlantic, up through Africa, accross from Egypt/Sudan to India then on to China ??
Seems the long way round.

Alex

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Alex for this excellent info and also for your PM. Finally can add a bit more to the names of BENT and WYMAN. My letter sent to the Directorate of History and Heritage of the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, sent in 2 0 0 9 (!!) still hasn't been answered. The receipt of my letter even never was confirmed. That's how Canadians are interested in the history of their military men who sacrificed their life during WW2 for our freedom.
Best regards,
Henk.

[Leendert]

Alex,

Congrats for solving this almost "cold case"!

It appears that the RAF (also) used Hudsons in the area, including 163 Squadron.

Regards,

Leendert

[paulmcmillan]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

So Do we know how the Hudson's originally meant for the RAF, then held by the USAAF(?) or RCAF(?) were eventually ferried to China ?
Alex

Stiwell's Mission to China - Page 158


"the transfer of General Brereton with all of his available aircraft from India to the Middle East and the halting in Africa of a shipment of Lockheed Hudson (A -29) bombers intended for China."

[Alex Smart]

Hello Paul,
Thank you greatly for the Book attachment.
It may well give the answer.
Operation "Aquilla"- shipment of 33 A-29's to China.
And isn't there always a "But".
But then later in the book it says:
The halting of A-29's in Africa destined for China.
Question Were these the same Aircraft or were they from two different operations ?

As at this time I am having problems accesssing the armyairforce.com website
and so cannot reply to The neice of Elroy F. Bent, to thank her as I did not get an e address.

BW729-775 as To China
US serial numbers were
41-23591 - 41-23637

Can anyone say for sure which A-29's the 33 mentioned were, ie serial numbers ?

Thanks very much
Alex