Lost Liberator- August 01. 1943.

[Modly]

During raid on Ploesti one damaged B-24 have found it way to Yougoslavia. It crashed in region of Konavle, (Close to town of Dubrovnik, and Boka Kotorska- bay of Kotor) some 2 Km from Adriatic sea. There was at least 5 survivers.
Could anyone help with more information about identity of plane?

[B-17 pilot]

I think you are referring to 41-11840-P named The Witch. The crew was from the 389th. 6 crewmen were POW's and they were:

Pilot Julian Darlington
Navigator Joe Quigley, Jr.
TT Lloyd Brisbi
G Ned Howard
WG Anthony Rauba
G Joe Turley

The remaining 4 crew evaded and they were:

Co-pilot Daryl Epp
Bomb. Major Gillette
Radio. Dale Hulsey
TG Walter Hardiek

Notes:

On the return trip in a loose formation with three other ships
The Witch was attacked by 6 Bf-109's from three o'clock.
Cannon shells tore into the #4 engine and wing running away
the engine. Darlington feathered #4 and rang the bail out bell.
After successive Luftwaffe attacks The Witch lost altitude and
bellied in a wheat field. A Bulgarian border patrol came on the
scene and the rest is history.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[Modly]

Dear Mike,
Thanks for your infos, but this plane is not "Witch". Witch landed on Yougoslav-Bulgarian border wich is some 400 km far away from Adriatic coast

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

"Let Er Rip"

124121

Could this be the one ?

night

Alex

[Modly]

Realy don't know.
I have Browning 12,7 from that plane and part of fuselage (sand)
There were some 7 to 8 parashutes. All crew members who survived were captured by Germans.

[Modly]

Dear Alex,
What is the stor of "Let ER Rip".
Where it crashed?

[Schenck]

Modly, are you sure it is the aircraft from 1-Aug-1943? To my knowledge, 41-24121 ('Let er Rip') and 41-23717 ('Exterminator') collided and both a/c crashed on Bulgarian side of the border with Yugoslavia. I don't know that any of the a/c from operation 'Tiadal Wave' came down in Yugoslavia, but I would like any additional info. Cheers.

[paul peters]

Hi Modly,
Is one of these towns in the neighbourhood of your crashsite:
Butimanu
Cocioc
Ogrezeni or
Nedelea?
Let meknow.
paul

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Te following are ships that had crew become POW.

41-24294 Brewery Wagon POW's Rumania
42-40781 Hells Angels POW Rumania
42-40609 Jersey Bounce POW's Rumania
42-40804 Bertha POW Rumania
41-24121 Let er Rip POW's Bulgaria
42-40612 Eurocyldon POW's Rumania
42-40613 Pudgy POW's Rumania
42-40265 Honky tonk Gal POW's Rumania
42-40182 Porky II POW Rumania
42-40780 Available Jones POW's Italy (S/d over Ionian Sea on return)
41-24153 The Sad Sack POW's Rumania
42-40371 G.I.Gal POW's Rumania
42-63761 Lil' Abner POW's Rumania
41-24015 Wing Dinger POW's Rumania
42-40735 Sand Witch POW Rumania
42-40753 Eager Eagle POW's Rumania
42-40115 Boomerang(Big Load) POW's Rumania
42-40782 Chattanooga Choo Choo POW's Rumania
41-11840 The Witch POW's Bulgaria/ 4 evd Yugoslavia
42-40991 Kate Smith POW Rumania
42-41007 Margie POW's Rumania
42-23782 Boilermaker II POW's Rumania
41-24197 Tagalong POW's Rumania
41-11886 Lil Joe POW's Rumania
42-40313 Boots POW's Rumania
41-11776 Jersey Jackass POW's Rumania
42-40520 Yen Tu POW's Rumania
41-11819 Raunchy POW's Rumania
42-24246 Semper Felix POW Rumania
41-24198 Vulgar Virgin POW Rumania
42-40312 Aire Lobe POW Rumania

The above is taken from "Black Sunday"

The following is taken from "Operation Tidal Wave Aircraft Roster" off the web

41-11840 The Witch C/l @ Bulgaria-Yugo border
42-40364 Snow White & the Seven Dwarves lost over Bulgaria on return
[Black Sunday has this a/c as Prince Charming crew all killed].

So, from all of the above there would seem to be only two a/c that had crew that became POW in a Country other than Rumania or Italy.

There were also those a/c that were interned in Turkey and others diverted to Malta, Sicily,Cyprus not noted here. All others are reportedly lost over Rumania(all crew killed) or returned to Libya.

Night

Alex