USAAF Survivors from Sinking of Italian Submarine Narvalo - 14 Jan. 1943

[Edward]

Stig, I believe that some of the reasons for the lack of documentation on the loss of the 1st Lt. Russell's B-17 is that the bomber and crew had not been assigned to a combat squadron at the time of the loss.

However I cannot explain why an Axis claim for the shootdown of the B-17 does not appear in HMAW vol. 3.

Leenert, thanks very much for locating the 2003 South Florida Sun-Sentinel article on R. Dexter Burley receiving the Purple Heart.

"A Private War"
By Susan J. Park Staff Writer
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 28, 2003

"Burley and the other prisoners scrambled to the surface, only to be greeted by three allied destroyers shelling the submarine. "The aftermath was the worst part of the whole thing," Burley said, wincing at the memories. "People getting blown all apart."

For hours they were fired upon, and Burley struggled to stay alive by diving into the water and holding onto the side of the submarine. With the shelling, he realized that he couldn't stay in the area, so he swam out in the bitterly cold water without a life preserver. Miraculously he was spotted and fished out by the British destroyer. But by that time the rough waters had taken their toll on Burley. He was thought to be dead."They shot me in the heart with adrenaline," he said. "They got me breathing and my heart working again."
_____________

Below are excerpts of two articles noting Millichamp's rescue of Maj. J.W. Street and the subsequent award.

"Florida Pilot [Navigator] Tells of Escape From Italian Sub"
The Miami News (Miami, Florida)
Sunday, February 21, 1943 - page 24
" "We swam away toward one destroyer, which now stopped firing, but Major Street, who had been a prisoner longer, rapidly tired. I had shed most of my clothes and was managing all right in the choppy sea." (Millichamp is a former life guard). So I asked the major: 'How are you making it?' He nearly choked as he tried to continue to swim and told me: 'All right son. You go ahead.' I just grabbed his shirttail and pretty soon we were having a cigaret with the crew on the destroyer."

"Halifx Decorates 12 U.S. War Heroes"
Confers Awards for Aiding British on Behalf of King George
The Morning Post (Camden, New Jersey)
24 November 1943, Wednesday - page 5
"Lt. Earle Millichamp, Army Air Forces, Lake Wales, Fla., was made a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). . . . Millichamp's heroism as a prisoner of war in Africa on a sinking enemy submarine under Allied fire, when he rescued a British Army officer and got him aboard "one of His Majesty's ships."

[Mark R.]

Here is what I had found before reading this thread. There might be a mistake or two since it was a work in progress:

The officers belonging to the crew of one of the misoriented B-17 ferry aircraft that landed behind enemy lines (piloted by Lt Bedford E. Russell), along with two P-38 pilots, two B-26 pilots, a South African and two British Army officers captured in Libya were originally scheduled to be transported to Italy aboard a liner on 13 January, but they did not arrive at the Tripoli docks in time to board it. Instead, the American and British POWs were put aboard one of the Italian submarine Narvalo. It had been used to transport fuel to Rommel’s army. Due to weather conditions, the Italian submarine commander decided to sail back to Taranto with the conning tower above the surface, which resulted in a British Beaufort from 39 Squadron sighting his vessel at 1330 hours on 14 January. Four depth charges were dropped, blowing the bows of the submarine above water, where it remained stationary with a list to starboard. The RAF plane called for assistance, which appeared in the form of two Royal Navy warships escorting a convoy (ME-15) six miles away. Although the submariners had raised a white flag, HMS Pakenham and HMS Hursley sank the Narvalo with gunfire, rescued its surviving crew and seven [identified] of eleven [known] POWs from the water. Saved were Lt Bernard A. Gillespie – pilot of a B-26 from the 17th BG shot down on 31 December, B-17 co-pilot, Lt Don M. Bryan, B-17 bombardier Lt Earle Millichamp, B-17 navigator Lt Rodman D. Burley, Lt J.C. Harrison Lentz – one of two P-38 pilots, a South African topographical engineer – Captain W.G. Alexander, and a British officer; Major [unknown] Street.

Lt Bedford E. Russell of the 97th Bomb Group, co-pilot Lt Philip W. Bailey from the B-26 flown by Lt Gillespie, Lt John Benham Turner of the 11th Hussars, and Lt Richard J. Carroll from the 14th Fighter Group were either killed by gunfire from the destroyers or drowned.

SOURCES: Thomas F. Gulley, et al, The Hour Has Come: The 97th Bomb Group in World War II (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1993), pp. 62 – 63; The Victoria Advocate, “Foster Field News,” 21 Feb 43, Vol. 2, No. 8, https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat =19430221&id= ZsNHAAA AIBAJ& sjid=aIAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2411,5303805&hl=ithe Victoria Advocate - Ricerca Archivio di Google News; https:// http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5...llip-w-bailey; John D. Mullins, An Escort of P-38s, 46; John W. Lambert, The 14th Fighter Group in World War II, 155; http:// conlapelleappesaaunchiodo. blogspot.com /2016/02/narvalo.html); Award Citation, Lt Turner, John Benham, 11th Hussars, WO 373/23/466; Ken Anderson, Nine Flames (Capetown: Purnell & Sons (S.A.) Pty. Ltd., 1964), pp. 195 – 196, Entry for 14 Jan 43, 39 Squadron Operational Record Book, AIR 27/407/48.

Note: Five Beauforts were protecting the ME - 15 convoy. Instead of being used in an anti-shipping role, the torpedo bombers were employed as anti-submarine platforms protecting convoys to Malta.

B-17 ferry aircraft misoriented and force landed"

1/3/1943 E of Gabes 97th BG B-17F-40-BO Lt Bedford E. Russell (POW) + 8 POW misoriented
97th BG History, p. 62. Three replacement aircraft being ferried to Biskra from Morocco got lost. a/c serial # 42-1542. Made a belly landing near Gabes.

1/3/1943 vic Gabes 97th BG B-17F-40-BO Lt Jesse L. Coulter (POW) + 8 POW misoriented
97th BG History, p. 67. Colter was flying a/c serial # 42-5357. He made a wheels down landing near Gabes. This is the B-17 that the 33d FG got "credit" for destroying. (see 97th BG History p. 67).

1/3/1943 Eastern Algeria (S. of El Oued) 97th BG B-17F-40-BO Lt Harry Devers + 8 bailed out and recovered misoriented
97th BG History, pp. 63 - 65. B-17F 42-5227. Crew bailed out when pilot could not find landing field. Ernie Pyle interviewed them at Biskra following their 10 January return.


NINE FLAMES: On 16 January, Lance Corporal Norton and six others were embarked on a submarine in Tripoli harbor and were taken on an uneventful voyage, mostly underwater, to Toranto, and from there sent to Bari where Lance Corporal Norton spent seven months before being moved to the prison camp at Laterina, where there were some 6000 prisoners. Two days before Lance Corporal Norton was shipped from Tripoli, Captain Alexander and ten other prisoners – English, Canadian, New Zealand, American and Indian officers – were embarked on an Italian submarine in Tripoli harbor, and placed in the forward torpedo compartment. They travelled on the surface during the predawn hours and submerged at daylight. It appears the Italian captain, impatient with the slower progress underwater, decided then to make the rest of the journey on the surface. But he was spotted by a Sunderland [sic] reconnaissance aircraft which straddled the submarine with three [sic] bombs, damaging it so it could not submerge. After dealing this crippling blow, the Sunderland got in touch with British destroyers escorting a convoy, and one of these soon appeared on scene and proceeded to shell the submarine. The prisoners in the torpedo compartment realized the ship had been damaged by the bombs and later they knew they were being shelled. Not relishing a watery grave at the hands of the Royal Navy, they overpowered their guards and made their way on deck where the Italian captain explained the position, told them he could not supply life belts, and that they had better swim for it. Captain Alexander, stripped to his underwear, was taking off his second boot when he was thrown over the side by the splash of a shell that fell periously close by. The Italian captain made no attempt to save himself, and went down with his ship. The men in the water thought they had little hope of being rescued, since it was unlikely the destroyer would stop to pick up survivors in hostile waters for fear of torpedo attack. But to their joy, the destroyer hove to and took them aboard. But the skipper, when he saw the motley crew who staggered over the side of his ship gasping their thanks in English, thought for one awful moment he had sunk one of his own submarines! The prisoners were taken to Malta by the destroyer, where they were given fresh uniforms and clothes and entertained by the governor himself. The following day they were put aboard and aircraft and flown back to the Marble Arch. Ken Anderson, Nine Flames (Capetown: Purnell & Sons (S.A.) Pty. Ltd., 1964), pp. 195 – 196)

[Leendert]

Just FYI that Lt Donald M. Bryan flew as pilot with 97th BG, 340th BS later in 1943.

Biskra, main B-17 base early 1943, was bombed by the Luftwaffe on 3 Jan 1943.

Regards,
Leendert

[Frank Olynyk]

One reason for the lack of MACRs for aircraft lost in 1942 and early 1943 is that the MACR system did not start until July 1, 1943. MACRs for losses before that date were prepared from the information on hand after that date. If a squadron or group had changed bases more than once (before July 1, 1943) how much of their documentation was dragged along to the new base?

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Good point Frank

But surely there must have been some reporting system for loss of aircraft, otherwise the units would run out of aircraft in the end.

It certainly explains the lack of connection between serial numbers and crews but it does not explain the seemingly big gap where we don't know exactly when a certain aircraft had been lost. Somewhere such a loss must have been reported.

Cheers
Stig

[edwest2]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Good point Frank

But surely there must have been some reporting system for loss of aircraft, otherwise the units would run out of aircraft in the end.

It certainly explains the lack of connection between serial numbers and crews but it does not explain the seemingly big gap where we don't know exactly when a certain aircraft had been lost. Somewhere such a loss must have been reported.

Cheers
Stig

A report would have been written for any aircraft that did not return for any number of reasons. And families would have been notified.

I attended a funeral for a man where a letter to his parents was prominently displayed. It stated that their son's plane had been shot down

while on a mission over Austria. I suggest checking Red Cross records as well.


Best,
Ed

[Alex Smart]

Hello Stig,
Some years ago I traced dozens of P38's and F-4s and 5's.
Have some of it still on paper, but sadly now there is no reference details attached , so do not now know how or where it came from. Only possible link may be that it was his assigned a/c when bringing the P38's over from the USA, but I have now no idea if that was the case. "Bolaro" I think the opp was named ?

Some of the pre MACR date ( that Frank highlights ) losses can perhaps be found within those MACR's in the 16000 series.

Thanks for your input
Keep safe
Alex

[Edward]

Ernie Pyle to the rescue!

A search for information about the Devers' crew, who bailed out of their B-17 on 3 January 1943, turned up more information [AHMAW vol. 3 page 236].

Apparently three B-17Fs took off on January 3rd and were unable to find Biskra airdrome.

Two pilots made force landings after being attacked by Axis fighters.

Lt. Devers continued but after running out of gas had the crew bail out. They reached Allied lines on 10 January and were assigned to the 97th BG.

2nd Lt. Jesse L. Coalter - B-17F #42-5357 (force landing. Crew Captured Jan. 4. Plane later bombed and strafed by P-40 fighters)

2nd Lt. Harry M. Devers - B-17F #42-5227 Bucket of Bolts (crew safely bailed out and reached Allied lines)

1st Lt. Bedford E. Russell - B-17F #42-5142 Nameless[?] (force landing - plane burned by crew. Crew captured Jan. 3)

B-17F #42-5227 Bucket of Bolts
"crew bailed out over friendly territory,
Crew reached Biskra January 10, assigned 97th BG."
Source: Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

1st Lt. Harry M. Devers - Pilot (Martinsburg, West Virginia)
2nd Lt. Richard Banning - Co-Pilot (Britt, Louisiana)
2nd Lt. Charles Watt - Navigator (Jacobsburg, Ohio)
2nd Lt. Victor Coveno - Bombardier (Cleveland, Ohio)
Sgt. W. K. Thiams - (Fayetteville, NC)
Sgt. Joseph Obradovich - (Lacrosse, Wis.)
Sgt. Richard Hasbrough - (Brooklyn, NY)
Sgt. Harry Alsaker - (Montana)
Sgt. Robert Oberon - (Cresline, Ohio)

A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Three
Tunisia and the End in Africa November 1942 - May 1943
(Grub Street 2016)- page 238

Tuesday, 5 January 1943
"On this date an Ultra intercept recorded that a captured B-17[Lt. Coalter] had been strafed and destroyed by two P-40s. During a raid [on 5 January] one such aircraft from the 97th Bomb Group had been reported lost east of Biskra, fate unrecorded. Similarly, a second of the unit's aircraft [Lt. Russell or Lt. Devers] had failed to return from an unspecified area of Tunisia two days earlier on the 3rd."

On January 10th the 97th BG B-17 lost on the 5th was bombed & strafed 3 miles NW of Kebili by two P-38s.
_________________________

"A Desert Saga"
By Ernie Pyle
The Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania)
29 January 1943, Friday - page 4
A FORWARD AIRDROME IN FRENCH NORTH AFRICA (By Wireless)
"Nine American boys have Just had a unique baptism of war.

They left America very recently on a bomber bound for the African front. They arrived here a little later, by camelback, after an incredible series of adventures, Including a battle with German fighter planes. Here is the story:

A Flying Fortress commanded by Lieut. Harry Devers of Martinsburg, W.Va., took off from America during the holidays and flew without incident across, the Atlantic and to the coast of Africa. Devers' crew of eight was composed of Lieut Richard Banning of Britt, La., copilot; Lieut. Charles Watt, Jacobsburg, Ohio, navigator; Lieut. Victor Coveno, Cleveland, and five sergeant gunners -- W. K. Thames, Fayetteville, N.C.; Joseph Obradovich, Lacross, Wis.; Richard Hasbrough, Brooklyn; Harry Alsaker, Montana, and Robert Oberon, Cresline, Ohio.

After landing in Africa they took off one recent morning and formed up with two other Fortresses for the last lap of their journey to war. They headed for the designated airdrome at the front, where they were to report for action.

They flew all day, and when they arrived where they thought the field should be they couldn't find it. So they flew on and kept hunting. The afternoon wore on and dusk grew near.

Suddenly, out of a blank sky, two fighters dived on them. Bullets began to spatter.

That was how these youngsters fresh from America discovered that they had wandered into enemy territory. What a fine way to start their war.

Devers' crew began shooting hack, but the fighters switched to one of the other Forts, one of which soon circled downward and disappeared, apparently shot down. It has not been heard from since [Russell crew].

The two remaining planes lost the Germans in the dusk. One made a crash landing. Devers circled over it and was given a signal not to land. Several days later American reconnaissance planes discovered this Fortress being towed along the road headed for Italian territory. They dived at it, guns going, and set it afire.

That accounts for two of the Forts and gets us down to our friends mentioned above.

They were alone in the air now and they headed back west to get away from the enemy. It was dark, and they still couldn't find the airdrome to which they were being sent, so they flew far south to make sure of getting sway from the mountains. They went up to 11,000 feet, flew until their gas was gone, and then jumped.

Devers gave them all instructions before they jumped. They were flying south and he would be the last man out, so he would start walking north and all the others south. The plan worked. Eight of the nine found each other within half an hour. Lieutenant Coveno landed in a gully half a mile away and spent the night there, rejoining the others next morning." [long description of walkout and camel riding follows]

A big tip of the hat to Steve Birdsall for helping to shed some light on all this.

Still would like to know which Axis fighters attacked the B-17s.

So who is going to turn all of this into a book and screenplay?

Edward

[Leendert]

Great finds and good part of mystery solved...

NARA POW record for Jesse L. Coalter says captured on 3 Jan 1943. Was (to be?) assigned to 346th BS, 99th BG.

Please note that for 42-5357 Osborne's Master Log gives conflicting info, but there's photo evidence of a destroyed #357 in a desert landscape.

Regards,
Leendert

[Edward]

Thanks again Leendert. In an newspaper article (9 August 1945) about Lt. Coalter following his return to the U.S. he states that he was captured on January 4. Hopefully more information will surface on this story.