B-24 losses on May 8, 1944

[Flatfeet]

Hello Community

I am still looking for information on B-24 losses on May 8, 1944 in the area Hildesheim Germany.
Especially after a ram crashed B-24 in Lamspringe.
This was crashed by a pilot of the JG 3, Leopold Münster, he himself was killed.
If you can help with details about the B-24, such as the factory number, the ID or even the MACR Report Number, please let me know.
Every little detail can be of use.

Greetings and thanks Jörg

[Revi16]

Here's a list of losses for May 1944. You can make a list of B-24's lost on May 8th.
https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/MACRmonthly/44MayMACR.htm


You can do a search of the MACR's here.
https://catalog.archives.gov/search?q=missing%20air%20crew&f.ancestorNaIds=421


Not sure why the links aren't working? Copy and paste in your browser.

[Flatfeet]

After a long day of searching, I was able to find the right aircraft and eliminate a mistake that had been common in many German books for years. It was not a B-24 but a B-17.

Best regards and wishes
Jörg

[RSwank]

On this link search for Witton.

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF...radley-17.html

Witton was flying B-24 42-52298 on May 8, 1944 and was "rammed" according to the link.

"Witton arrived at the IP at 23,000 feet in final preparation for the bomb run. The formation was attacked by waves of FW 190s and Me 109s. Badly shot up during the early passes by the enemy fighters, two engines were lost. One engine was on fire, the other disabled, causing the ship to drift to the left while the other planes of the 453rd were turning right. Armor plate and fuselage was shot away on the co-pilot's side, and flight deck was shot up, stripping the pilots of oxygen. Witton called for the bomb load to be salvoed, and for the crew to bail out. Conneely and others struggled to get the bomb bay doors open. The bombs were dropped. Then it was seen that both waist gunners were dead. Despite heavy damage and fire, Witton struggled to maintain position--very difficult with this plane at such a high altitude and especially difficult, given the damage it had received. Then the effort was lost when an enemy aircraft rammed the plane. Two crewmen were dead when the others bailed out Witton recalled being shot at by enemy fighters while he was falling to the ground. Eight men survived, were taken prisoner and held until in April 1945 when they were liberated by Allied forces."


The MACR is in pieces on fold3. (There is no mention of being rammed in the MACR that I could find. Unfortunately it appears that neither the pilot, Witton or co-pilot, Croxford, returned their questionnaires for the MACR after they returned to the U.S. postwar. )

https://www.fold3.com/image/29032916

This part filed under 42-52-98:
https://www.fold3.com/image/29032895



Also there is some information on this link (search for the plane number): http://www.oldbuck.com/media/32481/A...-the-453rd.pdf



B-24H-10 FO, 42-52298, 732 BS, 453rd BG.

Names: CHOO CHOO BABY / JELLY BELLY

Original airplane.

Landed at Watton on 26 Mar 44 - next combat mission: 30 Apr 44.
Lost 8 May 44 - either rammed by a German fighter whose pilot is believed to
have been dead at the controls or riddled by shots from German fighters and went
down 10 km W of Celle, 1 km NE of Ovelgönne. (Brunswick) MACR 4596

[Rottler]

Hello Jörg,

according to the II./JG 3 chronicle (Prien/Stemmer 1996) on 8 May 1944 Lt Münster was Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 3 and collided with a B-24 southeast of Hildesheim. The B-24 exploded and crashed down, Lt Münster was killed and came down near Wöllersheim (Bf 109 G-6/U4, WNr. 441142).
According to the MACR documents the crash location of the B-24 42-52298 (1st Lt Witton crew) was 1 km northeast of Ovelgönne near Celle, Abschuss-Nr./German casualty no. KU 1769. Wöllersheim is situated about 70 km south of Ovelgönne.

Regards
Leo

[RSwank]

Here is where the ramming version of the story came from.

The ramming was witnessed by Captain Andy Low who was flying lead for the mission.

http://www.453rd.com/stories/story_o...experience.pdf