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

[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

[BrianC]

Hi guys

Most interesting! Out of curiosity - who was the captured Sqn Ldr reported killed when the submarine was strafed? (see Post 1)

Cheers, stay safe
Brian

[Edward]

Leendert, thank you very much for tracking down these names.

Holstrom self-published the artwork that he created while a POW

Kriegie Life, A Sketch Book: Illustrated, Written and Published by Carl H. Holstrom, Prisoner of War No. 221
(Self Published 1946) - hardback
(Proctor & Gamble 1980) - paperback
33 pages w/ dozens of illustrations by the author

"Holmstrom was born in Connecticut and studied art at the Pratt Institute in New York prior to his service in the war, which began in 1941. After his plane crashed in Africa he was taken prisoner by German soldiers. During his imprisonment, he was transported from Frankfurt, Germany to Poland and then back to Sagan, Germany. Next, he was transported to Nuremburg during a well-known 200 mile, forced march in a winter blizzard, all before arriving at his last location, Moosburg, Germany where he and many others were liberated by General Patton's Third Army in 1945. The book details these travels, through pictures and words, and the last page contains a glossary of 'Kriegie Terms' used in the book, such as "Around the Bend" = "Mentally Deranged", "Foodacco" = "canteen of food and tobacco", and "Green Death Soup" = "dehydrated vegetable soup". A unique, first-hand look at the terrors of being a German P.O.W."

[Edward]

Leendert wrote:
"No names of officers mentioned here.
Officers whisked away to the Italian sub and other crew ended up in German camps?"

It seems that the Russell crew was captured by the Italians while the Coalter crew was captured by the Germans.

All of the members of the Coalter B-17 crew reached Germany for the duration.

I assume that it was standard policy for both the Germans and Italians to split up the officers and enlisted men from Allied bomber crews. The officers of the Russell crew were spirited away on the submarine Narvalo to try and reach Taranto while the enlisted men were initially left in Gabès or Tripoli(?).

Were the enlisted men of the Russell crew eventually taken to Italy or did they remain in North Africa?
Were they liberated in 1943 or moved to a German POW camp?

[edwest2]

Some information about POW camps in Italy here:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...camps_in_Italy

[Leendert]

Edward,
Russell crew (Alford, Abercrombie etc.) all ended up in German POW camps, most if not all in Stalag 17B.

Regards,
Leendert

[BrianC]

Hi guys

I'm interested in the British 'involvement in this tragic incident.

Apparently 11 British 'officer' POWs on board, of whom 8 lost their lives. On checking CWGC, I've located the following RAF/RAAF airmen whose date of death is recorded as 14 January 1943, and whose deaths are commemorated on the Alamein Memorial. Are these relevant?

Flg Off A.N. Austin 411726 RAAF
Flg Off W.G. Diehm 412049 RAAF
Flt Sgt G.H. Cameron 401416 RAAF
Sgt M.C. Harrison 408093 RAAF

Flt Sgt J.R. Gibbons 602828 RAF
Flt Lt H.G. Newman 62087 RAF (Malta Memorial)

British survivors included:
Maj J.W. Street (possibly others included Army POWs?)

Any contributions welcomed! Thanks

Stay safe
Brian

[RSwank]

None of the deaths you mention would have been on the submarine. All died elsewhere.

Austin, Arthur Neville:
Pilot, Kitthawk. Lost on 14/1/43 . At 1640 eight 3 Squadron Kittyhawks flew an armed reconnaissance over the Gheddahia area. Austin failed to return.

William George Diehm lost on same day: https://aviationmuseumwa.org.au/afcr...george-412049/

Harrison and Cameron lost same day:
https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws....nt/7720111.PDF
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=79052

J R Gibbons: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=74633


Newman died of diphtheria.
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=98876



Also found a picture of Millichamp and his obit.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8952...mpa-bay-times/

He originally joined the RCAF and was trained as a navigator. When the US got in the war he switched to the AAF. He later became a pilot.
He died in California in 1992.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8952...lompoc-record/

[BrianC]

Many thanks, as usual, Rolland

So, who were the British fatalities, including the Squadron Leader?

Stay safe
Brian

[Leendert]

A British casualty was Lt John Benham Turner, 11th Hussars, according a 2005 post on wwtalk.com.
A 2007 story in the Colchester Gazette/Standard tells that the Italian submarine may have been torpedoed by a British ship his brother Hugh was serving on... However, this ship was HMS Porpoise, an RN submarine. Not sure if this sub was in any way involved.

In a tank regiment like the 11th Hussars, you also have squadrons...

Also see this Italian website with name of Turner and all Italian casualties: http://conlapelleappesaaunchiodo.blo...2/narvalo.html

Regards, Leendert