MACR 1720

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
MACR 1720 - 12/20/1943 - 379BG/526BS.
Only two pages shown in Fold3, only one being the the actual report details.
A/c serial number for search purposes is given as being 42-38789, but when you look at the page the serial number has a note attached to the effect " Not 38789, could be 31789 or 37789".
Well for starters I checked "8th & 9th AAF Losses" vol 1, page 516. This gave the correct airman but repeated the 42-38789 serial number.
If anyone cares to check this serial number you will quickly find it to have been an AT-17.
So I looked at the other two suggested, firstly 31789, this was a 2BG 20BS a/c . the second suggested a/c 37789 was a 384BG a/c.
So I looked at 42-39789, this was indeed a 379BG/526BS a/c.

So Unless someone has further information that it could not possibly be 39789, then I put it that MACR 1720 a/c was 42-39789. ("Skunkface" or "Skunk Face" depending which reference you look at ).
The airman involved was S/Sgt. Payne, Udolphus D. - 34440524 who became a POW.
He bailed out over the German/Holland border.

For clarity a second 379BG a/c was lost this date, 42-37851 of the 527BS, MACR 1721. 7 KIA, Reichold, Levitan, Litz, Taylor, Colburn, Brady, Campbell, 3 POW, Hennessey, Poweske, Mantor.


Alex