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  #1  
Old 6th December 2017, 22:50
Mikkel Plannthin Mikkel Plannthin is offline
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Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

On the night of 9 September 1943, an a/c of 489th BS, 340th BG took off for an attack on the Grazzanise Landing Ground north of Naples. The raid was no succes and on the way back the a/c ran short of fuel and had to ditch. The crew survived. The captain was Decker.

I am trying to identify this a/c. Does anyone have an idea of how to move forvard?

Regards

Mikkel
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Old 7th December 2017, 01:20
Alex Smart Alex Smart is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

Hello Mikkel,
If I am right this a/c was a B25.
MACR 3686
Serial number - 42-53455.

From the Joe Baugher website
42-53455 (340th BG, 487th BS, "Little Isadore") cashed after takeoff
near Sfax, Tunisia Sep 9, 1943. 4 killed, 1 thrown out and survived. MACR 3686.

The MACR is NOT available in the Fold3 website.
You may be able to order a copy from Craig Fuller via the Aviation Archeology website.

All for now
Alex
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Old 7th December 2017, 02:02
RSwank RSwank is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

Alex, I do not think that is the right plane. On this link on 11 September there is a description of what happened to the Wendell D Decker crew on the night of 9/10 September.

http://57thbombwing.com/340th_Histor...t_Sep_1943.pdf

It appears they went down off the coast of Sicily. At the time they were based at Catania, Sicily and they went down in the water close to the base.
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Old 7th December 2017, 02:17
Alex Smart Alex Smart is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

Hello Rolland,
The date in the original post was for the 9th September 1943, hence my response.
However you are correct, the link you kindly included in your post gives details of the Decker event, but the date was the 10th September, 1943.
Well done,
Alex
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Old 7th December 2017, 02:46
RSwank RSwank is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

Interesting that Decker completed his tour (35? 50? missions) with this ditching.

The ditching is mentioned here:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68176231

He returned to the US then went out the Pacific. He ended the war as squadron commander of the 499th BS, (Bats Outa Hell) of the 345th BG. He flew the near B-25 in this painting "Surrender Flight" (August 19, 1945), escorting the Japanese delegates to Ie Shima.

https://www.regencyparkwayart.com/en...ight-p94825777

Last edited by RSwank; 7th December 2017 at 17:17.
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Old 7th December 2017, 08:04
Mikkel Plannthin Mikkel Plannthin is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

Thank you both.

I was aware of the link to the 489th BS diary and that the ditch is mentioned in entry of 10 Sep 1943. I do believe
- that the operation in question took place around midnight 9/10 Sep 1943
- that the ditching was recorded in the diary on the 10th
- that the return of the crew "Last night [i.e. the night of the 10th] the squadron hd a happy surprise." was recorded on the 11th

That is also the reason why, I have concluded that the raid was the second raid listed on 9 Sep 1943 in the combat mission list, that is GRAZZANISE LG, ITALY.

From the description "Little Isadore" 42-53455 failed to take off in the first raid on 9 Sep 1943, that is AVELLINEO RD. JET, ITALY.

Mikkel
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Old 7th December 2017, 17:11
RSwank RSwank is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

Mikkel,

Is your interest in this crash because of the co-pilot, who I "believe" was this man. Am I correct about that?

http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/profiles.php?person=241
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Old 7th December 2017, 17:16
Mikkel Plannthin Mikkel Plannthin is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

Yes, that's correct. I am in the proces of updating danishww2pilots (my website) regarding him, and - in the proces - trying to fill in some of the blanks. He is also covered in my recent book on Danes in Allied air force service during WW2.

I have very little information on his USAAF service.

Mikkel
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Old 7th December 2017, 17:18
Mikkel Plannthin Mikkel Plannthin is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

He returned to the US in October 1944 and was a ferry pilot until the end of the war. There seems to be a VHS tape with an interview with him in a US University archive, but I have not been able to get hold of it/se it. I am based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Mikkel
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Old 7th December 2017, 18:01
RSwank RSwank is offline
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Re: Id of 489th BS, 340th BG a/c ditched 9/10 Sep 1943

I would guess that VHS tape is in the B-26 archives at the University of Akron. Egebjerg's name shows up in a search. I wonder if you could get some grad student to either make a written transcript or a audio or video digital copy that could be e-mailed to you. Did you ever contact the archives? I am not sure what type of services they offer or what they could possibly arrange.


I did find a February, 1944 article about him in "The Tennessean" (Nashville, TN). It gives a brief bio and has a picture. He was then in the 20th Ferry Group, ATC based in Nashville.

Last edited by RSwank; 7th December 2017 at 20:19.
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