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Old 7th December 2017, 17:20
Leendert Leendert is online now
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B-25C - 42-32491 - Yugoslavia 18 Dec 1944

B-25C 42-32491 was lost over Yugoslavia on 18 Dec 1944, I believe while on a mission to drop agents. One of fatalities reportedly Capt. Justin McGowan, 2677th Reg't, Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

Joe Baugher gives "ACR" as unit (?) for the B-25, but what is that the abbreviation of?

Thanks for info.

Regards,

Leendert
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Old 7th December 2017, 17:36
Frank Olynyk Frank Olynyk is offline
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Re: B-25C - 42-32491 - Yugoslavia 18 Dec 1944

Air Crew Rescue Unit. An OSS unit that built a landing strip in Yugoslavia.

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Old 7th December 2017, 17:55
Leendert Leendert is online now
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Re: B-25C - 42-32491 - Yugoslavia 18 Dec 1944

Thanks for quick anwswer, Frank. Something to find more about...

Regards,

leendert
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Old 8th December 2017, 12:37
vathra vathra is offline
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Re: B-25C - 42-32491 - Yugoslavia 18 Dec 1944

Just a few corrections:
- ACRU was subortinated to 15 AAF. It did had OSS agents for work on the field, and sent some reports to OSS.
- ACRU mainly used air strips that were previously built for allied missions, and in few cases prepared local fields. They were not prepared for building air strips, because in one case they, with local help, prepared air strip which was inadequate.

- B25 were used to drop supplies during bad weather. This plane was lost on such mission.
Agents were usually sent in with C-47, which rescued Airmen.

Main task of ACRU was to help extract downed airmen. More specific from chetnik territory in Yugoslavia because Allies have severed ties with them, so ordinary mission was not an option. ACRU rescued some 423 allied personnel from chetnik territory, and several dozens from partizan. On partisan territory there were allied mission and airstrip with every partisan corps HQ, and they helped with evasion of most of 2000 airmen.
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Old 8th December 2017, 14:10
Rottler Rottler is offline
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Re: B-25C - 42-32491 - Yugoslavia 18 Dec 1944

Hello Leendert,

the MACR 10787 (loss of B-25 C-15 42-32491, nickname “Durmitor“) concerned the following personnel:

Pilot 1st Lt John Sullivan, O-747518, 1st Ftr. Gp.
Co-pilot 1st Lt Franc P. Larson, O-699429, 454th B. Gp.
Navigator 1st Lt Richard B. Knight, O-704010, 98th B- Gp.
Aerial Engineer S/Sgt Samuel B. Andrews, 19006069, 465th B. Gp.
Radio Operator S/Sgt Leo P. Flowers, 19039114, 451st B. Gp.
Observer Capt Justin J. McGowan, O-1166133, OSS Washington D.C., attached Co. B 2677 Regt, OSS.

Regards
Leo
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Old 9th December 2017, 21:43
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Re: B-25C - 42-32491 - Yugoslavia 18 Dec 1944

Got two Q on this topic

- Actually the 855th Sqd was an airborne platform for the covert OSS Ops ,was
not aware they also operated B-25's

- Rather a puzzle is the composition of the crew, pilot an ex P-38 pilot
while rest from various Libs 15th AF BG's rather an 855 Sqd or OSS
designed task force crew
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