A-26 loss April 18, 1945

[KM1957]

Can anyone tell me what unit lost an A-26 on April 18, 1945, over Germany? I do not believe it was a 9th Air Force unit, but possibly an 8th Air Force special mission as the plane reportedly carried special radio equipment. It was shot down in error by White Flight of the 360th FS, 356th FG. I have searched numerous books and fold3 MACR's, so far without success. All I am asking for is the unit and I can take the search from that point. Thanks you.

Kent

[Horst Weber]

Good evening Kent !

The Roger A. Freeman book " The Mighty Eight War Manual" indicates, that some A-26 were used to drop agents over Germany and occupied territory, when MOSQUITOS had no space to drop more then one agent.

The first mission was on January 3rd, 1945, by 25th Group A-26, s/n 43-22500. Some other agent deliveries were undertaken by 7th Group, s/n 43-22524.
Thereafter, A-26 missions were carried out by 492nd Group, a/c available:
- 43-22524 (failed to return March 20th, 1945)
- 43-22513
- 43-22610 (crashed April 3rd, 1945 at Rackheath)
- 43-22626

Hope this helps

Horst Weber

[RSwank]

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...r&GRid=2888897

Might be this crash.

[RSwank]

Looks like the whole crew is on findagrave.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GSvcid=193078

[KM1957]

Horst and RSwank: thank you both for the leads. I will follow up on the serials and 8th AF operations, but have a hunch the crew was lost with the unknown A-26 serial number from the 409th BG. fold3 has a MACR 15917 for the crew, but no details are included other than hometowns and messages back and forth between higher headquarters asking for a report. I'll continue the search and hopefully a trip to NARA II will now clear things up. Again, thanks to you both for your help!

Kent

[Alex Smart]

Hello Kent,
Craig Fuller's site :
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...418&Submit2=Go

Confirmes the MACR Number as 15917 for the 18th April 1945 and gives serial number as 43-22618.
Fold3 has the Bomber Group & Squadron numbers, crew names/service numbers and NoK names & addresses, sadly no a/c serial number or weapons numbers. What is mentioned in a letter is that the a/c was on a single a/c mission to test "Shoran".
So Craig must have goten the serial number from either the BG or Sqdn records or from some other US report.
From Mighty 8th War Manual, page 240:"AN/APN-3 Shoran - Short range navigational system similar to "Oboe". The 8th AF initiated a programme of installation and trial for "Shoran" on 25th March 1945, but little progress was madebefore VE day. During April the first two installations were carried out at Alconbury on B-17's of the 305th BG.
On page 207 - Flown by a 25th Group crew A-26C43-22500 flew a first sortie over Northern Holland on the night of the 3rd January 45, followed by another on the 7th to Northern Germany it crash landed on return at Watton due to hydraulic failure. Further sorties were flown - 2nd March by 43-22524 to deliver agents to Berlin. Thereafter A-26 opswere carried out from Harrington under the 492nd Group. Five a/c being available. On the night of 20th March 43-22524 failed to return. The last A-26C op by the 492nd Gp took place on 9/10th May. The other A-26's were 43-22513,22610 ( crashed Rackheath)and 22626.
From "Support & Strike" ( old now 9th AF Book ) page 83, a brief history of 409th BG.
The Group moved to France in September 44 and converted from A-20's to A-26's in December 44. Its final mission was on 3rd May 45 an attack on an ammunition factory dump in Czechoslovakia. Squadrons were: 640th(W5), 641st(7G), 642nd(D6) and 643rd(5I). Group marking was a Yellow band along the trailing edge of the rudder.

Again from Craig's site it shows that this was the only A-26 lost by the squadron in action and that only two others were lost in accidents, A-26C 41-39195 on November 28th 1944 and A-26B 41-39206 on the 28th May 1945. The 409th Group lost in action at least 15 A-26's.

From "Foreign Invaders" 43-22618 was an A-26C-25-DT within the serial number range 43-22590 to 43-22751, Fuselage numbers 339/500, Construction numbers 18737 to 18898.

http://www.abmc.gov/search-abmc-buri...7#.VDCncFfgWr8

All the very best
Alex

[KM1957]

Alex, thanks for the added information. I totally forgot about checking the Fuller site. Again, I appreciate the help everyone has provided.

Kent

[Leendert]

Kent,

It appears your A-26 raised some questions on website Army Air Forces back in 2008 as well: http://forum.armyairforces.com/April...S-m156646.aspx

Regards,

Leendert