From a C-47 crash site. Someone can help us?

[SALERNO1943]

Here is reportage of our visit to a crash site of a C-47. We know it is crashed in summer of 1944. There are 19 men on it and 11 or 12 deceased. We will be glad to know more about this aircraft and about these men.
The place
1

First find!
2

The crash site
3

Fragment of fuselage.
4

Pilots and\or parachute equipment?
5

Fragments.
6

Object of men are in aircraft. I recognize a fragment of a fork U.S. Some idea for other objects?
7

A lot of glass
8

10 A 250 What it is?
9

Fuselage fragment with LAD 24
10

Plate from the bullet-proof jacket that have gunners in bombers. Do you know C-47 have gunners? We also find a bullet 12,7.
11

Fragments of ceramic
12

Fragments of ammunitions. Bullet of rocket. Bullets 12,7. Bullet and ball from Carbine M1. Balls from cal. 30.
13

What it is?
14
14a

What it is?
15
15a

Fuze BURNDY A-10496

16

What it is?
17

Glass with N
18

Small bottle DES PAT. 8 825
19

Small bottle DES PAT 85...
20

Small bottle K-4533 1-1
21

Buttons and some small part
22

Button and collar disk infantry
23

Label RADIO CALL 315153. This is a sure reference to C-47 4315153.
24

Mario, Pierpaolo e Angelo
25

Thanks for every informations you can gave us!

[Leendert]

Can you inform us about the location?

Regards,

Leendert

[SALERNO1943]

Originally Posted by Leendert

Can you inform us about the location?

Regards,

Leendert

Sure. It is about 50 km south\east of Naples, Italy. The date of crash of this C-47 4315153 is 31 july or 29 august 1944. I know it take part to D-Day in Normandy.
Any other informations?

[Leendert]

Salerno,

43-15153 (at least, that's what I can make of it) appears on a 8th & 9th AF loss list with MIA 29 Aug 44 (!). Unit given is 436th TCG, as also said on another forum.

I read that the main element of 436th TCG returned to Membury, England from Voltone on 23 Aug 1944, but 82nd TCS only on 30 Aug 44.

C-47 therefore of 82nd TCS?

Regards,

Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Salerno/Leendert

If Air Britain's book about the DC-3/C-47 and its first 70 years are anything to go by it states:

43-15153 c/n 19619 delivered 11 Feb 1944, to 8th AF on 11 Mar 1944, to 9th AF 79TCS at an unknown date. Crashed 01 Aug 1944 into mountain near Montevergine, Italy.

B Rgds
Stig

[SALERNO1943]

Thanks. The place is correct. About the date: From the book we read about this crash site we know that crash was 29 july 1944. Perhaps it was recordered 1 august when it was discovered from authorities. About 29 august perhaps someone do a mistake for 29 july.
Do you have some idea how I can know names of crew and of soldiers on this aircraft?
Again thanks!!

[SALERNO1943]

Friend of another forum identify another tool of photo 7: a military type cotter key/pin puller

[Stig Jarlevik]

Well Salerno

Strangely enough there is no MACR for this crash at ArmyAirForces.com , so I cannot help you there.
Perhaps someone else have an idea why not?

B Rgds
Stig

[NUPPOL]

http://www.warbirdinformationexchang...c.php?p=418164
http://forum.armyairforces.com/From-...s-m205455.aspx

[Leendert]

Salerno,

A friendly person gave the following information:

The following quotes come from 436th TCG microfilm (B0544) records of July/August 1944:
1) NARRATIVE: "July 31 was an unlucky day for the Group as one plane of the 79th T.C. Squadron crashed near Foggia killing nine of the eighteen negro passengers. The crew escaped with minor injuries".
2) CHRONOLOGY: "July 31 - A plane from the 79th T.C. Sq. crashed near Foggia at 1000 killing nine of the eighteen colored passengers. The crew and the other passengers escaped with minor injuries."
3) GROUP ENGINEERING REPORT: "August 1 - Aircraft No. 43-15153 crashed in the mountains of southern Italy near Montevergine Monastery. Nine passengers were killed." (I think this records their equipment loss, which is their main concern, not accident reporting)

Unfortunately no names are provided.

One problem: Foggia is far from Montevergine? But one similarity: both say nine victims...

Regards,

Leendert