From a C-47 crash site. Someone can help us?

[SALERNO1943]

I received this:

The following message to <foia.hrc@conus.army.mil> was undeliverable.
The reason for the problem:
5.1.0 - Unknown address error 550-'5.1.1 User unknown'

Do you are sure about e-mail address? Thanks.

[dp_burke]

Computers!!
Thats the email address I've tried before, teh ABMC gave me this two days ago for contacting them so if the emial address fails again just send a postal letter.

Attn: Aaron Alton (FOIA),
Department of the Army,
Army Human Resources Command,
Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center,
Dept 450, 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue,
Fort Knox,
KY 40122-5405;

email address HRC.FOIA@conus.army.mil


###### I edited the email address for FOIA on thsi message for future references based on Leendert's message at
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=26306
The thread flow may not make sense but future readers can at least have the correct address ############

[SALERNO1943]

Fail again. I'm writing a letter.
Thanks!

[dp_burke]

try the revised address leendert suggested, I've ammended my message above hrc.foia instead of foia.hrc

Also, is there any clues in the local town, village or regiion archives? Woudl the local police have recorded any names? Are tehre any elderly people you can talk to in the area?

[SALERNO1943]

Thanks. Address appear to be correct.

We already contacted city hall archives but there are not informations because of war age. Some old people remember the crash but they gave us not exact informations about the place. Therefore we must to do 4 travels to this mountain befose we find exact place.
Tomorrow we will return. We hope to be lucky...........

[patelie]

Matteo... and All

I just got today my microfilm reader at home (ouff, i was searching one since a long time) and I am able to help you, giving the unit of the negro soldiers and the names of the crew.

The first part is from the group diary (the same than before) and the second one from the squadron diary, which is more interesting.

GROUP DIARY - AUGUST 1944
Group Engineering
August 1: Aircraft N°43-15153 crashed in mountains of southern Italy near Montevergine Monastery. Nine passengers were killed.

Historical events
July 31 - A plane from the 79th T.C. Sq. crashed near Foggia at 1000 killing nine of the eighteen colored passengers. The crew and other passengers escaped with minor injuries. a plane from the 82nd T.C. Sq. flying in the same formation hit some trees, but pulled up and made a safe landing at a nearby airport. The plane was damaged, but no one was injured.

Historical narrative
July 31 was an unlucky day for the Group as one plane of the 79th T.C. Squadron crashed near Foggia killing nine of the eighteen negro passengers. The crew escaped with minor injuries.


SQUADRON DIARY - AuGUST 1944

SECTION THREE : Narrative
On the previous day, July 31, the squadron's first crack up in Italy occured when five ships were ferrying Negro soldiers to Foggia. Flying under a heavy cloud bank, one plane collided with a mountain. All of the crew-- pilot Lt. Howard B. Wank, co-pilot Lt. Marvin (NMI) Butz, crew chief Sgt. Raymond H. Kelley, radio operator S/Sgt. Charles T. Taylor-- escaped injury, but nine of the 16 passengers were killed.The plane was washed out, necessitating replacement by one of the plane left in England.

SECTION FIVE : Operations report
The missions first crack-up occured two days later, on the 31st. Five ships took off at 0800 to ferry Negro personnel of the 904th Security Battalion to Foggia. The formation was flying beneath a heavy cloud bank when a mountain suddenly appeared ahead, all the planes cleared the embankment but one--that flown by Lt. Howard B. Wank, whose ship crashed into the top of the mount, killing nine of the sixteen passengers. Wank and his crew -- co-pilot Lt. Marvin (NMI) Butz, crew chief S/Sgt. Raymond H. Kelley, radio operator S/Sgt. Charles T. Taylor-- escaped injury. The plane was washed out.

PS : It seems that the 904th Base Security Battalion provided security for Rosignano airfiled and ground station.

Hope this help

[dp_burke]

Finally, a break through!

Thanks Patrick.

ABMC have no burials for such a unit with 904 numbers.

the unit was an Air Base Security battalion (ASB Btn)

Searching internet there graves in the US ought to be marked with

'904 AIR BASE SEC BN' but I'm not getting any returns to July Aug 1944.

The modern day USAF Police might have some form of memorial, I'll see if we can track them down.

This link here:
mmiarchivist.pbworks.com/f/Household+Inventory.pdf
has the unit flag in their archives, I'll contact them see if they have anything.

Howard B Wank died way back in 1974 in his native Ohio.

Marvin Butz may have died as late as 2007 and seems to have stayed in the airforce after the war, up to 1953 according to a newspaper article I found. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atl...6929&fhid=5442

Raymond H Kelley, i cannot be certain but a man of this name who was an air force veteran passed away in Florida in 2005.

Can't determine Taylor just to the name being very common.

There is a little history of the Air Base Sec Bn at this link:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/ww.../chapter15.htm

[Leendert]

Good to hear that more information has come forward! Next step: names of the victims....

But for some general reading about (then called) negro airbase security battalions and wartime policy, this may be well worth reading: http://www.history.army.mil/books/ww.../chapter15.htm

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Oops, I now see that Dennis referred to the same. Still, a good read!

Leendert

[SALERNO1943]

Dear Patrick and All,
many, many thanks for all your precious informations!!!
I'm just returned from high mountain of crash site with my friends. We spent a day to search it and we are not in good health for all hard work. However I'm glad to say we have a name: "James A. Wright". This name give you some idea? More news tomorrow or as soon is possible.
Again many thanks!!