B-26 387th BG 31-8-1943

[Brian Bines]

Seeking crew listing for KX-M 41-31653 of 387thBG/558BS shot down over Vendeville on 31-8-43 crew of Lt. Anderson. I believe MACR 471 refers but I could not find it, any info. appreciated,

Regards

Brian Bines

[RSwank]

The story and crew list is here, along with a photo of the plane going down:

http://www.b26.com/historian/trevor_allen/king_bee.htm

Pilot: 1st Lt. Ernest L. Anderson;
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Donald Stevenson;
Nav. & Bomb: 2nd Lt. Earl T. Miller;
Radio Op Gunner: S/Sgt. William B. Powers, Jr.;
Engineer Gunner: S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell;
Gunner: Sgt. Harry C. Seth (Only survivor).

The MACR (19 pages) is on fold3.com but is misfiled so it can't be found by MACR number or plane number. You can find it if you search for Ernest Anderson. The plane was hit by flak right at "bombs away" over the target. Harry Seth was the only survivor and was told while he was in hospital (Albert Calmet Hospital, Lille) by a German nurse that the rest of his crew had been buried in the hospital cemetery. He had no memory of what happened after the bombardier had announced "bombs away". He regained consciousness in the hospital.

The eyewitness statement in the MACR said the plane was in two pieces with the back 1/3 separated from the front. The front part was in a flat spin and spun down to the ground.

Here is a link to the first page (for those with fold3.com access). The rest of the pages follow in order.

http://www.fold3.com/image/#38296545

The Air Force Photos are free on fold3.com There are a series of SAV (Strike Attack Vertical) photos which show the plane going down.
Here is one which shows the front portion of the plane (upper left side of photo).
http://www.fold3.com/image/#49495873

This one seems to be a few moments later, the front portion of the plane seems to have nosed down and a parachute is seen in the photo.
http://www.fold3.com/image/#49495865

The rear of the plane:
http://www.fold3.com/image/#49495784

Several of the photos together.
http://www.fold3.com/image/#49495774


These photos are all together on fold3.com and you can move forward or backward from any of the links above and view all of them.

[Brian Bines]

Thanks very much for the info. and pointing out the way to find it on on fold3,

Regards

Brian Bines

[FrankieS]

for unclear cases this "crashed in France" website could provide good leads:
best wishes,
FrankieS


http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=2583