One for the USAAF specialists: Does anyone have details about the four B-17s bombers + one Mustang fighter lost on april 1944 above france? I would particulary appreciate, the names of the crews, Bg+ FS and possibly crash sites. Groups would be a minimum so I could google for crews or others. I have the list with the Germans who claimed the aircrafts but I don't know which units thye belonged to: Mission Lyon/BRON date april 30 1944. B-17 42107012 92BG 407FS. crew? crashed s.e Orleans B-17 crashed Aubigny B-17 crashed s.e Orleans B-17 crashed s.e Orleans P-51 crashed s.e Orleans they all crashed between 11.50 and 12.05 and were all shot down by Jg2 fighters. The germas lost 4 fighters (I have those details already)
Skipper, I am finding multiple websites that list only one B-17 lost on that day. WWII Combat Chronology : April 1944 Eighth Air Force Historial Society Found this page, could be one of the FG that supported the mission 4th Fighter Group Tidbits Follow the dates down. Gives name of the pilot lost. I haven't had much time to look more.
From: ::Warbird-Central.com :: Warbird Information Database No other B17 was lost on this date that fits your description. I've also checked the other series too. You can also do a date search for Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) here: Army Air Forces: Missing Air Crew Reports To obtain a MACR report try here (though there are a number of other sites that sell them): Miltary Aircraft Accident Report Ordering Information
Skipper, this may help: Which Allied unit made the attack? - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum
Thank you all for the multiple answers 4th FG was certainly amongst the little friends. I should have stressed that these were luftwaffe claims, not allied loss claims. They are certainly overclaimed (4 vs 1! ) I therefore presume that B-17 42107012 from 92BG 407FS was the only one lost. Does anybody have the names of the crew? I will try to get MACR 4466 too. Also I have pinpointed at least two Mustangs, there may be more.
I found out the pilots name from: Translated version of http://www.b17database.de/data.php?block=94 And I've attached the listing for him from the American Battle Monuments Commission
wow amrit you are working fast! now I have 13 losses to check! and the name of the pilot of 42-107012. The trouble is that reports say it crashed near Lyon and I have another site that is 400km away near Montargis. It' either another B-17 or one of the sites is wrong. Thank you again, I have an appointement on Monday with a man who the fight 63 years ago and knows two crash sites , so he"ll probably give me even more hints.
oops sorry, Slipdigit, I mispelled, it was of course a Bomb Squadron. Amrit found the pilot's name: P. Jack H. Campbell, who is buried at Epinal, France.
I figured you knew it and jsut threw it there to see if we were paying attention. Glad you got part of the crew, hope you find the rest. Concerning the unsubstantiated claims of kills by the German pilots, I wonder how many of the extra 3 planes claimed were badly damaged enough to be write-offs, if any?
the records say 8 bombers were damaged, but it does not say they were written off. however I have 3 others Macrs for lost B-17s the same day. I have to check whether these were on the European theather and on the same mission, as they can be false alerts. They are 42-32014 (92BG) 42-5418 (483BG) and 42-31805 (463BG).
Thought I'd save you some time: 42-32014 crashed near Bologna Discussed - 42-32014 Pappy Yokum 42-5418 crashed near Vanette Discussed - B-17 [Archive] - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums 42-31805 SHOT down by flak. Ditched in Mediterranean. 4 POW; 5 RTD Translated version of http://www.b17database.de/data.php?block=72
That does save time indeed. So now the losses are one B-17 (42-107012) crash site unknown (two different sources suggested = near Lyon or near Olreans) + 8 B-17s damaged + several Mustang fighters crashed (one in Normandy, one near Lyon) + one P-38. I am still looking for the crew. Thanks Amrit, I appreciate your help.
Hello from France do you still need info about this plane ?? i have been where that plane crashed regards Alain age 54
Hi Alain , thanks for your help , I did my research about this crashsite many years ago and posted this 5 years ago and have what I need now. Of course any additional info would be welcome.
