AFHRA & NARA Missing Air Crew Reports - 2

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

Tony Kambic
B-24J
Sat Dec 9 23:43:54 2024


My uncle was a fatality when his B-24J went down. The cause of it's downing is unclear. Does anyone have info on it?

B-24J 42-50774 Mission on 4/14/45 to Royan, France.

After bombs were dropped (10:20 AM), the bomb bay exploded. He was top turret gunner and appeared to be OK by pilots, who ordered evacuation of the aircraft. The
aircraft wreckage was found, and the crew accounted for except him. His remains were discovered a year later in a forest, not far from St. Augustine's. The remains were
intermingled with a chute, but the cause of his demise is unclear.

I'm trying to determine if the aircraft was struck by flak, enemy figthers, on-board mishap, etc. Any info appreciated.

Thanks

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Rabe Anton
Re: Loss of B-24J s/n 42-50774
Sun Dec 10 05:30:32 2024


According to Paul Andrews, Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth (n.p.: Eighth AF Memorial Foundation, 1995), p. 147,
the B-24J s/n 42-50774 of 389th Bombardment Group, 567th Bombardment Squadron, went Missing In Action on 14 April 1945 during an operation against the
Bordeaux/Royan area.
Andrews states cause of loss as a mid-air collision, for which one may see MACR 14173 and E & E Report 2971.

There seems no reason to doubt Andrews' entry for this loss. As to contributing factors, the bomber in question could not have been damaged by enemy fighters, since
there were none within hundreds of miles. Presumably, the last-ditch defenders of Royan could have put up some kind of flak fire, but its intensity must have been minimal
given the condition of the Royan garrison. The MACR may contain postwar debriefing statements by survivors; if there are none, or the testimony therein is inconclusive,
you've reached the end of the evidential line.

RA

RA

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Bob Korkuc
What is E & E Report 2971?
Mon Dec 11 15:55:10 2024


Rabe,

What is an E & E Report?

Bob

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Phil
Escape and Evasion report
Tue Dec 12 08:17:45 2024


Escape and Evasion report

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Tony Kambic
Thank you.
Sun Dec 10 15:11:05 2024

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Ivo de Jong
collision
Sun Dec 10 08:18:38 2024


Also in Roger Freeman's "Mighty Eighth War Diary" a mid-air collision is mentioned as cause of the crash. These two B-24's of the 389th BG were the only combat losses
for the 8th AF that day. The other plane involved was 42-51233 "The Bigast Bird", flown by Lt Edward W. Bush. Eight of this crew were killed, two became prisoners for the
last weeks of the war.
If you want more information I suggest that you order the mission report for the 389th BG for that mission. This report will no doubt cover the incident. Of course both
MACR's will give a lot of information as well.
Ivo de Jong
(The Netherlands)

[Tony Kambic]

I have finally obtained more info of this incident although not all of it. I spent some hours at NARA and here's what I have uncovered. The 2 MACR's for this mission (Apr 14, 1945 Royan) mentioned bombs falling from above passing through the B-24 formation. From the witnesses, there was no mention of a mid-air. They saw bursts and then the planes going down, one exploding as it did. And while researching another topic for a friend, I uncovered a mission report for the 447th BG (B-17) (Apr 14 1945 Royan) where a bombadier admits seeing their bombs fall through and strike some B-24's with incendiary bombs. There is mention of an accident report for this, but I have yet to locate it.