Hi,

19th December 1943.

B24 losses

From what I have there were only five.

Three from the 98th BG(42-73418;42-73421;4240402) and two from the 376th BG(42-73089;42-41175).

However I have been told that from wreckage found on a Mountainside that there was another B24 lost .

Does anyone have details of this sixth unknown B24 , which BG, etc ?

Thanks
Alex

Alex,

B-24H # 42-7735 crashed in Algeria on 12-19-43.

Not sure if this is the one you are looking for. 

I'll have to go down stairs and check the microfilm. 

Tony Mireles

Alex,

My records indicate that B-24H # 42-7735 crashed into the side of a mountain 300 feet from the top about five miles west of Mechmeya, Algeria, while flying from Marrakech to Manduria, Italy.  There were 12 fatalities and one survivor with very serious injuries.  The airplane, which was on a ferry mission, was assigned to the 450th BG/15th AF.  The pilot's name was 1Lt. Nicholas P. Kordich.  If you need a complete crew listing, I can provide it. 

Hope this helps.  Good luck with your research. 


TonyM.

Hello Tony,

Thank you Tony for this info but I am not sure that the one I was looking for was lost in Algeria.
I will check though.

Many thanks for your help.
Alex

Alex Smart


Hi,

19th December 1943.

B24 losses

From what I have there were only five.

Three from the 98th BG(42-73418;42-73421;4240402) and two from the 376th BG(42-73089;42-41175).

However I have been told that from wreckage found on a Mountainside that there was another B24 lost .

Does anyone have details of this sixth unknown B24 , which BG, etc ?

Thanks
Alex

My source lists 41-11779, 42-41175 and 42-73089 from the 376th lost on 19-12-43

Herb Harper

Hello Tony,
Many thanks for your help.

And Hello Herb,
The third one you have listed may be the one that is saught.
What can you tell me about 41-11779 please ?

Thank you both I hope that you are out of the storms path and are keeping well .
Alex

Alex:

The eye witness reports on the 376th aircraft MACR identifys plane #35 and plane #21 going down. I do not have the S/N, so am not sure which aircraft he is referring to.

Reuben Weltha, 98th group leader that day also reports seeing an aircraft go down, but is not sure if it was a 98th or 376th. As he was group leader he could see only a part of the 376th formation to his left and at a lower altitude.

The two groups were attacked by ME 110s useing rockets

I will keep looking for any more details.  MY belief is that the 98th aircraft S/N 42-40402 was hit by a rocket and spun out and collided with one of the 376th aircraft.
 
Incidentally 42-40402 was "THE SANDMAN" the much publicised B-24 shown in photos coming out of the smoke and dodging smokestaks at Polesti. I have done quite a bit of research on this 98th loss, including working with an Italian film crew who did a documentary
investigating the discovery and identification of The Sandman. I have a copy of the documentary narrated in Italian. I also have a printed copy of the English translation.

Herb

Hi Herb,

But what about 41-11779 please ?

Alex

At the moment, all I have is that 41-11779 crashed. I have the MACRs on the other two 376th B-24s

Herb