P-40 crashed south Salerno, any idea?

[SALERNO1943]

These fragments come from a P-40 crash site about 50 km south of Salerno. Eyewitnesse referr to crash in septmber 1943. Pilot was buried on crash site and then take from USA military. Any idea about pilot or aircraft number? Thanks

[Revi16]

Possibly,
430913, P-40, 42-104981, 33 (Unit), MEDITERRANEAN, 2033 (MACR)
430926, P-40, 42-10961, 79 (Unit), ITALY, 1639 (MACR)

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Franko,down Italy, seen to hit the water kia.
Smith,oposite Salerno FOD August 13th 1945.Still mia.
So I am not sure either fit.
Both MACR's are available on Fold3.
Alex

[SALERNO1943]

Please note that pilot crashed in september 1943 when germans were in south Italy. Do you have any other idea? Thanks.

[Alex Smart]

Hello
Can you confirm that the pilot was indeed buried at the crash site as per witness reports. Then at some later date removed by the US forces to yet another burial site/Cemetery ?
Thanks
Alex

[Rainer]

Four USAAF fighter groups flew P-40s operational in the MTO during September 1943:
33rd FG (58th FS, 59th FS & 60th FS, with 99th FS attached)
57th FG (64th FS, 65th FS & 66th FS)
79th FG (85th FS, 86th FS & 87th FS)
325th FG (317th FS, 318th FS & 319th FS)

It seems there aren't many possibilities if the details are correct (USAAF P-40 and its pilot lost during September 1943). These are the only cases I could find so far:
1943-09-13 2Lt Charles G. Franko of 59FS/33FG (MACR 2033 42-104981 P-40N-5-CU)
1943-09-15 Maj Glenn Harwood Crast of 59FS/33FG (buried at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery)
1943-09-26 2Lt Whitman R. Smith of 86FS/79FG (MACR 1639 42-10961 P-40L-20-CU)

Does someone know the circumstances of the death of Major Glenn Crast? Found no MACR or accident report.

[SALERNO1943]

Thanks to eveyone for your precious help. Yes is confirmed from a eyewitness that came on crash site soon after crash. He said us that germans do anything to remove dead pilot from aircraft. The some people buried it in the ground where aircraft crashed. Then some allies military came to take it way. The time is not over end of september because germans are still in Contursi area. This area was the escape to north for german troops in Salerno area and therefore the way was severely attacked from allies airforce.

[Leendert]

A relative of Major Glenn H. Crast had done some research and found that he was shot down over Sicily...

See https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/c..._6_1961_hit_a/

If so, then not the pilot of Salerno.

Regards,

Leendert

[SALERNO1943]

Shot over Sicily in 15 sept. 1943??? At that date Sicily was not in war because it was occupied from Allies. At 15 sept. the Allies were engaged with germans in Salerno area. Perhaps someone confused where he is buried with place where crashed...

[Leendert]

Interestingly, a personal account points to Salerno for Major Glenn H. Crast.

T/Sgt. Crast is one of four brothers: Maj. Glenn Harwood Crast, AAF, fighter pilot, lost his life in combat at Salerno, Italy, in 1943. Pfc. Jack Crast, USMC and Pvt. D. R. Crast, USMC, are both somewhere in the Pacific.

Found the text on www.sandycreeknyhistory.com in a 2005 document.

Regards,

Leendert