USAAF losses over Ploesti 24 June 1944

[keith A]

Can anyone give me more information on the USAAF losses on this date.

325 FG P-51Cs 42-103552, 42-103599

450 BG - B-24 41-29227, “Illegal Eagle” 42-78216, 42-78380, “Wolf Pack” 42-64454, ” Shoo Shoo Baby” 42-50304, 42-94984

376BG - B-24s 42-78190, 42-78373, 42-78111, 42-52547.

449 BG - B-24 “Gidi Gidi Boom Boom” 41-28846

98 BG B-24s 42-73136, 42-100259

I know they were attacked by LW, Rumanian and perhaps Bulgarian pilots. JG52 claimed some victories but am unsure how many. Ten years ago this forum discussed the raid and Rumananian pilots of the 9th FG were credited with3 B-24. From JG52 Erich Hartmann and Hans Birkner claimed P-51s and Helmut Lipfert and his wingman claimed 2 B-24 but I believe the total LW claims were eleven. I believe Heinz Ewald also brought down a bomber.

The Bulgarian air force shot down the 449th BG B-24 when it strayed into their air space.

regards

Keith

[udf_00]

325th FG
http://raf-112-squadron.org/325thfghonor_roll.html
24 Jun 44
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showpo...71&postcount=3
42-103552 (Welch) was lost to light Flak on a S.A.R. mission.

Other claimants :
I./JG 53
http://cieldegloire.fr/jg_053f.php#victoires1944
6./JG 301
http://cieldegloire.fr/jg_301.php
III./JG 77
http://www.cieldegloire.fr/jg_077e.php#victoires1944
II./SG 2
http://cieldegloire.fr/sg_002.php

La Chasse De Jour Allemande en Roumanie, Jean-Louis Roba Et Erik Mombeek, p70
98th BG : 2 lost to fighters
376th BG : 1 lost to fighters, 1 lost to Flak, 2 unknown
449th BG : 1 unknown
450th BG : 4 lost to fighters, 1 unknown

[researcher111]

Keith

I will verify your question, however at first sight I am not aware of any Illegal Eagle
of 450 BG as loss but as a night landing accident in Italy with no other events and an
other S/N than this u've mentioned which was 41-78216 . Then 325th FG 42-103 559
( need pilot's name ) can't find the S/N , however there's a 42-103 599 and I guess
there must be a typing error at your end. As into Welch he was not shot down over
Romania, I don't have his macr and I presume he was escorting the bombers bound
to Romania when shot down over Italy.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
42-78216 - MACR 6364 not available on "Fold 3".
but
is listed on aviationarchaeology.com - so-
MACR - Country - Date - Aircraft Type - AAF S/N - Group - Sqdn - Pilot
6364 - RUM - 440624 - B-24G - 42-78216 - 450BG -723BS - JOHNSON, HERBERT P Jr.

Crew lost were -
2Lt. JOHNSON Jr, Herbert P - O-818159.
2Lt. BARNES, Daniel Gunningham - O-823788.
2Lt. LINDSEY, John W. - O-709935.
2Lt. LOTOW, Jason H - O1286313.
S/Sgt. SHOUP, Howard W - 35787698.
Sgt. BALEK, Louis - 33831705.
Sgt. BRAGA, Davis A - 39041771.
POW
Sgt. CASSIDY, William L - 17071948.

Possibly two other crew as yet I haven't found names. The other five(41-29227; 42-78380; 42-64454; 42-50304; 42-94984) aircraft from this Bomb Group that were lost on the 24th all had ten crewmen.

All for now

PS
Re: " Illegal Eagle" yes was with the 450th BG, BUT serial number was 42-28756, for three photo's see B24 Best Web via the armyairforces.com website.
But this aircraft was lost on 24th May 1944 MACR 5440, an earlier MACR 3930 for 5th April 44 was due to one MIA crewman.

So it is quite possible that the name was used again on another aircraft in the Group, possibly 42-78216 but where is confirmation of this being so ?

The 450th Bomb Group Website has: 722nd Squadron - 42-78216 named "Janner II".
B24 Best Web has photo of her here:
http://www.b24bestweb.com/jannerii.htm

Alex

[researcher111]

Regarding 42-78216 the night landing incident report is listed at 450 BG , there is no MACR because the aircraft and crew was not lost , hope that helps .

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

That figures as lives lost but in allied area, so no MACR.

But as Listed in my earlier post seven lives were lost and at least one crewman became a POW so MACR 6364 was issued, so therefore it must exist ?

I think that the night accident report you mention is that for "Illegal Eagle" serial number 42-78285 on August 2nd 1944.

Alex

[researcher111]

Indeed and thanks for your update . Checked through my books and records of 15th AF, the Janner II 42-78216 was shot down on that day over Ploesti ,Pvt CASSIDY, William L ( not Sgt ) was the single survivor who bailed out and became POW .Obviously no MACR , no crew photos ,just a grave stone and some scanty details here and there. Strange feeling to determine these heros died unnoticed, not even their BG group have records on them .

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Here is the info I used for POW Cassidy.

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-d...pg=1&rid=51766

Looks like Sergeant to me.

From something at the back of my memory says that all flying crew of lower rank were automatically raised to Sergeant, but I could be wrong, perhaps it was a promotion whilst a POW.

As for the crew were there 10 crewmembers or just eight as it would seem ?
If ten then two more names are wanted.

Alex

[researcher111]

Yes you may be right on your presumtions , normally the Lib would be manned
by 10 or more , however in various cases even by 14 if Mickey type Lib and in
other cases crew would lack a Nav or Bombardier or more crew members and
be flown by 8 or 7 crew members. 450 BG states he was Pvt but may have been
promoted after death . Considering the lone survivor the acft may have caught fire
and exploded .

Strange I could not locate any crew photos or material, I therefore presume must
have been a new crew who just arrived to Manduria not really known
to the other crews and the Group

[udf_00]

http://www.450thbg.com/real/index.shtml
Archives
S2 Reports
http://www.450thbg.com/real/s2/1944/june/24june.shtml