Recovery of Lt. John D. Mumford-KIA June 6,1944

[kaki3152]

Just found this online. One of the latest recoveries of DPAA was that of Lt. John Donald Mumford, who was killed on June 6,1944 while flying with the 325th FG.
He was killed in combat with Rumanian Bf-109Gs and was supposedly the victim of Constantin Cantacuzino.

Here's a newspaper article about Lt. Mumford"

http://www.tampabay.com/news/militar...esday/2316606#

[researcher111]

Kaki , thanks for posting this , in fact I was speaking the other day with Neil about Lt Mumford without knowing about the discovery . He was shot down NE of Taraclia by fighters from either SG-2 , SG -9,SG-10, JG 52 or NAGr 2 which were based at Leipzig (Moldova ) closer to that perimeter which intercepted the 325th FG fighters from Poltawa enroute to Romania . I highly doubt Cantacuzino had anything to do with it . If you would read the MACR various pilots mentioned FW-190's fighters which in fact points out to the Leipzig based Luftwaffe FW-190 fighters. Cantacuzino was not flying the IAR-80's which were often confused by Allied pilots as FW-190 or Italian fighters .

[kaki3152]

Researcher 111, you're welcome. Regarding who shot him down. I know that Rumanian fighter planes were in action against the 325th on this date. There was also another 325th FG P-51 shot down on this date with the pilot becoming a POW

[researcher111]

Kaki I can confirm to you that MacDonald was not shot down by Romanian pilot nor he was POW , he returned to Allied control through Soviet lines. The area where the aerial took place was under Luftwaffe control primarily those units fromLeipzig airfield. Indeed Cantacuzino's Grupul 9 de Vânâtoare recorded a P-51 on June 6, 1944 , though circumstances are not clear on how ,where and what in similar with his other P-51 claimed as downed on July 15,1944 when in fact 15th AF 31st, 52nd and 332nd FG's which escorted bombers to Ploesti did not lose any over Romania .

Alex K

[kaki3152]

Researcher 111

I beg to differ. Here's Lt. Donald J. MacDonald's POW record. This is from the National Archives POW Database.

O&667086 MAC DONALD DONALD J ARMY North Dakota Middle East Theatre: Rumania Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated GERMANY Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11

[researcher111]

Kaki

Yes according NA he was POW , however more relevant would be Sagan POW's
roaster evidences .The info I have he bailed out over Moldova and was able to
reach Soviet lines in due course

[vathra]

Kaki,
regarding NARA PoW records, I have found some 150 cases in Yugoslavia where airmen were reported as PoW, despite the fact that they evaded with help of guerrillas.
For majority of cases I have Escape statements, and they were never in enemy hands.

Therefore you should take data from PoW database with caution.

[kaki3152]

Yes, but there is evidence that he was at Stalag Luft 3, therefore he was a German POW