Details on loss of 42-104179 P-38J 26.7.44

[researcher111]

Discussing with Charlie Pinson two years ago he considered the MACR
details as totally misleading and indicated to me he was shot down
by two IAR-80 or 81 fighters after a short fight unable to shake the
off of his 6 0'clock somewhere near Bucharest . On the following letters
he sent me he gave more details as into the flight from Poltawa to
Romania and the place where he attemped a forced landing on a corn
field.

Would appreciate any additional details as into the potential opponent
and the crash site if available through books or research material.

The P-38J was not consumed by fire and was in relatively in one
piece after belly landing . Charlie flew the " Penny II "

Alex K

[Alex Smart]

Hello Alex K,

The MACR gives map refs, did you assertain if this was the actual crash point or the "last seen" position?
The two witnesses do report that they were chasing an ME 410 and were attacked by up to 10-12 ME109's.
No mention of Rumanian a/c, but it would perhaps be "normal" at that time to say that the attackers were ME109's.
Also perhaps the post pow debrief report may tell you more.

If you are searching out a P38 for that date then don't forget that 1Lt Robert C. Grithith flying 43-28679 was KIA, MACR 7010.
The 14th FG also lost 43-28260, Capt. J.C.Smyth who also became a pow. But I do not recall if his loss was part of the Frantic III return opp,or a separate operation.

Alex

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I suggest you sent a message to Denes Bernad, member of this forum that knows a lot about Romanian air force. He will probably know the Romanian claims of the day and maybe if there is a report for the capture of Pinson (with a location).

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Did not look earlier, but Denes's book " Rumanian Aces of WW2" has on page 51/52 the account of Grupul 9 vanatoare pilots claiming 11 USAAF aircraft shot down.although only 2 P38J's appear on the 15th AF loss lists.
Another unofficial source states that 20 P38's and 10 P51's were lost over Romania, Ukraine and Poland on that day.
Alex

[researcher111]

Alex & Laurent

As I mentioned earlier on I been keeping contacts with Charlie for several years, he sent me a precise written account of the crash location and the events other than what MACR described . On July 26, 44 the 15th AF lost only two P-38's over Romania , I am not aware about 20 P-38's and 10 P-51's lost over Ukraine and Poland . Also the story with the ME-410 must be an error ...I am not certain if at all the Luftwaffe ever stationed enroute from Poltawa in Moldova and Romania ME-410's according my info all ME-410's were station in Hungaria ....this info needs to be verified too . Check attachment .

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Re the Me410.
I only quoted the other pilots witness reports in the MACR.
Also the place name and map coordinates are in the macr.
See my remark on this in my first post.
Alex

[researcher111]

Alex S

No problem well done and well appreciated

Cheers
Alex K