US plane lost over northeastern Adriatic in the summer of 1950

[Boris Ciglic]

Hi all,

I'm looking for any info about a plane crash (supposedly USAF or USN) which occurred some time in the summer of 1950 in northeastern Adriatic. Yugoslav authorities allowed US aircraft to conduct searches above Yugoslav territorial waters off of Istria.
Involved in the search was a C-82 Packet, any clue about its unit would be also great.

Cheers,
Boris

[RSwank]

This does not quite fit your timeline, but a C-47 was "lost" on November 19/20, 1951 and searches were conducted using C-82 Packets.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19646629/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19646578/

Other articles describe how permission was given for searchers to fly over certain areas in Yugoslavia.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19646705/


http://www.6901st.org/history/shootdown.htm

The copilot's story is here, note the plane was actually forced down:
https://books.google.com/books?id=mV...slavia&f=false

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

The" 6901" link above.

Details of the April 8th 1950 PB4Y2.
Number was 59645 "HB-7" of VP-26.
Some years ago there was an aerial picture of this a/c which was still in almost one peice under the sea.

Is it still there or was it recovered ?

Great link , thanks Rolland,
Alex

[Boris Ciglic]

RSwank,

Great info! Many thanks! I knew for this C-47, but would have never connected it with the 'Packet incident'. Apparently, a pair of Yugoslav Bf 109Gs scrambled from Pula aerodrome to investigate a unknown plane over Istria. They failed to hear the recall order over radio and caught the C-82, pair leader signalling to the US crew to follow him, but his wingman opened fire but luckily missed. C-82 came down at Pula, and after apologies by 83rd Fighter Regiment CO, continued its search.
Interestingly, the CO placed the incident in summer 1950 and the pair leader even before that...

Cheers,
Boris

[Leendert]

Just to add that other crew of C-47 were Capt. David H. Henderson, Sgt. Jess J. Duff and Sgt. James A. Elam.

Interesting legal document: http://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-re...PP-1-00-EN.pdf

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

60th TCG at Rhein-Main AB, (then) W-Germany was the largest C-82 operator in Europe at that time.

Treviso AB, Italy, used as (a) forward base for C-47 search efforts.

USAF planes happened to be there to help in SAR and to do food droppings over areas that were flooded mid-November (earlier heavy rains, Po River overflowed...).

Regards,

Leendert



Regards,

Leendert