Looking for the crew names of 42-97728 which went down on 15 Nov 1944 Linz, Austria mission. MACR 10081
I need to know if S/Sgt. Mark E. Imlay #19049984 (formerly of the 94th Bomb Group, 333rd Squadron) was indeed KIA with the 352nd Sq. on 15 Nov 1944 as stated on the ABMC website. There is a conflict between various records.

Sorry --I posted all of the below before REALLY reading your post very carefully.  Let me check some other sources.  I'll make a new posting. 
 
Mark E. Imlay indeed was killed in action on that mission in this Lockheed-Vega built  B-17G-25-VE.  That airplane had been assigned to the 352nd BS at Lucera on 15 May 1944.  On the same day the 352nd got a sister ship. 42-97738, a B-17G-30-VE.  Both airplanes had formerly served with the 49 BS / 2nd BG at Amendola.  The latter Fortress was lost just two days prior to "728" on 13 Nov 44 on a mission to Blechhammer.  See MACR 9863.

For grave info on Mark Imlay I went to:

http://www.abmc.gov/search/wwii_list.php

http://www.abmc.gov/search/detailwwnew.php

The listing is as below:

Mark E. Imlay
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # 19049984
352nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy 
Entered the Service from: Utah
Died: 15-Nov-44
Buried at: Plot E Row 19 Grave 28
Lorraine American Cemetery
St. Avold, France 
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Another airman with the same last name was also listed when I entered the name "Imlay" in the WWII section:

Maris W. Imlay
Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # 16026510
Headquarters Squadron, 19th Bomber Group, Heavy 
Entered the Service from: Wisconsin
Died: 7-Sep-44
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery
Manila, Philippines 
Awards: Purple Heart

  I have never seen a 301st BG photo of either 42-97728 or -97738.

The book: “Who Fears?"  The 301st In War and Peace 1942-1979  by Kenneth P. Werrell (Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX, ISBN 0-87833-025-9 Taylor Issue, Library of Congress Catalog 90-72025, First Printing 1991) (287 pages, hardbound, navy blue w/ gold lettering) shows this crew on the listing of 301st BG losses on page 179:
 
Mitchko  (Pilot-killed)
Bullock  (Co-Pilot-killed)
Hillhouse (Navigator-prisoner)
Cantwell (Radar-killed)
Flood (Bombardier-killed)
Patterson (Engineer-prisoner)
Haglund (Radio Operator-killed)
Imlay (Waist Gunner-killed)
O'Brien (Waist Gunner-killed)
Spagnolo (Tail Gunner - killed)
 
In the text on page 104 it says, "Another, piloted by Lieutenant Alfred Mitchko (352nd), was listed as missing. (Endnote 87).  Again, other crewmembers flying that night thought the weather, severe turbulence and icing, was the cause of the loss.  In fact, Mitchko's crew was returning from the target at 32,000 feet when they encountered extremely bad icing and engines number two and four acted up.  The pilot was unable to feather the first and the prop ran away.  The bomber suddenly went out of control, into a spin, and the crew bailed out over Austria. (Endnote 88)."  Endnote 87 references Holmes interview, and 88 references "Dupuy and Dupuy, 1118."
 
I don't find either Hillhouse or Patterson among the members of the 301st Association dating back to 1986.
 
Lowell Thompson
301st Bomb Group/Wings Association Historian
son of 419th BS Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Ernest Lloyd "Tommy" Thompson, July 1943-March 1944

Wernt back to the ABMC site Bullock & Spagnolo were not found, but the others are below:
 
William J. O'Brien
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # 34794473
352nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy 
Entered the Service from: Florida
Died: 15-Nov-44
Buried at: Plot D Row 32 Grave 25
Lorraine American Cemetery
St. Avold, France 
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
 
 
Robert G. Haglund
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # 37565716
352nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy 
Entered the Service from: Minnesota
Died: 15-Nov-44
Buried at: Plot A Row 30 Grave 15
Lorraine American Cemetery
St. Avold, France 
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
 
 
William W. Flood
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O1540361
352nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy 
Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: 15-Nov-44
Buried at: Plot A Row 28 Grave 19
Ardennes American Cemetery
Neupre, Belgium 
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
 
 
Benjamin E. Cantwell
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O-703940
352nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy 
Entered the Service from: Maryland
Died: 15-Nov-44
Buried at: Plot E Row 24 Grave 38
Lorraine American Cemetery
St. Avold, France 
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
 
 
Albert H. Mitchko
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O-807765
352nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy 
Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: 15-Nov-44
Buried at: Plot B Row 31 Grave 6
Lorraine American Cemetery
St. Avold, France 
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

 

  Lowell, thank you much for your information. This becomes more interesting all the time. S/Sgt. Mark E. Imlay was an original ground crew member in the 333rd Sq., 94th BG who was assigned on 2 Jan 1943 at Biggs Field, Texas. He went on to become a gunner on the Lt. Henry J. Raschke crew in early Jan. 1944. Lt. John F. Mitchell (Raschke's co-pilot) became a first pilot and S/Sgt. Imlay flew as a gunner on his crew for an undetermined amount of time. A former crew and bunk mate of his S/Sgt. John T. Grasse speaks highly of him saying that he was a nice guy, Morman, married and from Utah. They called him "Trash" because he would sweep everything under his bunk. He said that he was shot down and KIA, but was unsure when.
The 94th BG KIA list indicates that he was KIA with the 410th Sq. on 3 March 1944. The only 94th loss that day was Lt. Donald Ahlwardt of the 331st Sq. and he does not appear on that crew.
I was rather surprised to see him as KIA with the 301st BG, 352nd Sq. on 15 Nov 1944. It would not be the first time that the ABMC was incorrect, but with the info you have provided it appears that he was indeed transfered to the 301st BG and KIA on 15 Nov 1944.
   Do you have an arrival date for the Lt. Albert H. Mitchko crew and S/Sgt. Mark E. Imlay ? I will look further through the 94th BG Special Orders for a transfer date to the 301st BG for S/Sgt. Imlay.
The 385th and 447th BG's had some crews who were DS to the 94th BG, but no 301st BG crews that I am aware of. Also, the 94th BG is not shown as flying a mission on 15 Nov 1944.
For info on S/Sgt. John T. Grasse, his son in law has opened a site at  www.lazlographics.com
Thanks again for your efforts. I will get back to you when I am able to sort out some of the 94th BG conflicts, Regards, Marc

Here's one of John's photos of Mark Imlay...
John tells me Mark earned the nickname "Trash" because when he swept the floor he would always push the trash under his bed.

[image]local://upfiles/12878/08AB164ED9BC48B5827069FD877D085C.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

this plane macr 10081 was shut down on november 5th 1944 and crashed on mount Stivo (italy) at 45,52N and 10,53 E.it was sent from Lucera airfield to bomb Linz tank works. on the way back  to south terrific winds shifted the plane to west till north lake Garda.when the plane with other 6 reached this point they met some nazi,s fighters (fw190 and me190) the last plane of the box was thr n.42-97728. olive drab ,probably damaged from strong winds ,I saw the plan spinning down and crash over the mountain. I was eleven year old. the only  b17G missing on that day in Italy.I saw documents that the major of the city of Riva del Garda sent to american government on may 1945 confirming this loss.this plane sent an S.O.S to the tower control not confirming the position of the plane. they suppose the crash over austrian alps.riva56

this plane was not down on november 15th over Austria,but on november 5th 1944 not over Austria but at 45,52N and 10,53 E  over mount Stivo  north Italy (north lake Garda).riva56

Hello riva56,
 
The B-17G 42-97728, crashed in the austrian alps, at the 15. november 1944, in 2200 meters under the top of the mountain "Schöneck", 2540 meters.
From the 2 survived crewmembers, engineer Patterson Roy landed with his paracute near Schladming (Ennstal) and there he were captured, navigator Hillhouse Harry landed in "Kleinsölktal" and were captured at 16. november in the forrest house "Schwarzensee" he spends a nigth at the "Putzentalalm", whith was the last and highest cottage at the valley.
In the forrest house "Schwarzensee" he drawed a postcard to declare the crash.
I visit the crashside myself.
The MACR 10081 tells the same, but on my copy at the date, the number 1 was printed over the text, and so it looks like 5. november.
Maybe that on the 5. november at mount stiva in italy crashed a b-17, but not 42-97728.
Greetings Richard

hello richard, i  have got from nara documents about this plane.if you check on aircraft serial number and macr you will see  that above plane was lost on november 5th 1944 .the plane is from 301st bomb group,352nd squadron.the documents i had told me the story of this plane.I was eyewitness( i believe of this loss) the plane was sent at 7,30 from Lucera (south Italy) to bomb linz tank works, with other 6 b17g olive drab. the  weather was was terrible from Venice to the Alps.on the way back terrific winds shifted the plane to south west.it reached north lake Garda. between 11,30am and 13pm  the planes encounterd 3-4  Me109 and Fw190. the 42-97728 was the last plane of the box.probably damaged by the wind and fighters the plane went in a spin and crashed at 45,52N and 10,53E. the document says that the plane called tower control for an S.O.S not telling the position. usaf authorities suppose the crash of the plane over the alps.otherwise the only b17 ( that I saw) lost in Italy that day was this only. As soon as I will go back to my home in Trento  (now I am in Milan) I will send copis of the documents I got from nara. have my best regards. emil riva56

this plane was lost on november 5th 1944 not 15th.it is possible to know exactly  from other  plane crew members where exactly the plane crashed? it seems, from documents, that the plane, owing of terrible weather conditions and  terrific winds was shifted to west till north lake Garda and crashed at 45,52 degreesN and 10,53 E. I saw one b17G olive drab on that day.riva56

dear Richard if you tape n.42-97728 on search space you will see that the above plane was lost on november 5th as per documents i have.the same as per macr number.ciao.riva56

hallo Richard. if you tape  n. 42-97728 on the search space you will see that the above plane was lost on november 5th.the same for the macr.number as per documents I have. ciao.riva56

I agree with you. there are some conflict between various records about this loss. from my records and  memories I have got from different department  of Air Forces,the plane was lost on november 5th 1944.They do not know where exactly was lost. from different offices and records,seems, as I said, yhat the plane had many difficulties due from the weather. I wonder that nobody of the other crew member (other plane of the box, 7 planes had nothi to confirm. riva56

Hello Riva,
 
in the attachment are the MACR 10081
You can see the date 15. November 1944
It gives many differences at some crashsides an the Macrs.
 
Greetings Richard

[image]local://upfiles/14189/F1DAF96CA1DF4EFC8291C2AF9F423C0A.jpg[/image]

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Hello Riva,
 
here one of the 35 sites behind the MACR 10081
Hillhouse Harry tells the name "Steinmart" thats Steiermark, in some new website maps the was also Steinmart writing, but thats wrong, Steiermark is correct.
 
Greetings Richard

[image]local://upfiles/14189/7827BF93267A480BB7135FCC831FA9E9.jpg[/image]

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Hello Riva,
 
here ist the next behind.
 
Greetings Richard

[image]local://upfiles/14189/E555D864733F4245A851397993FFE8E8.jpg[/image]

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I have  too  the attachment but I have some other documents that confirm the loss on november 5th.As soon as I will return home I will send in thr forum my documents.The plane sent an SOS to the tower control,but the radio operator did not give the position,so they suppose the crash  somewhere at foorhill of the Alps because the plane was on the wayback to Lucera (south Italy)  from bomb run over Linz tank works. other pilots confirm that day over thr Alps terrible with terrific winds from north. Groud authorities presumed they shifted the plane to south west.what happened after,I can confirm. In any case there are some conflicts between various records.I hope to  better clarify in the next future. with greetings.riva56

Hello Riva, I am Harry P. Hillhouse's youngest son and am very interested in any information you have. Richard from Austria (Hello Richard!) has already sent information to my brother and I and we would like to know everything that you know on the subject matter. Where is St. Ivo is it on the Austrian/Italy border? Our father died 15 years ago and we are trying to follow his path through his life. Please let us know anything you know.
 
Thanks

Hallo Harry,I am an eyewitness historian and since one I am searching informations about a loss on italian skies of a b17g olive drab I saw lost (I was 10 year old) on November 5th  between 11am and 13pm. The only b17plane lost in Italy on that day was the n.42-97728.As soon as I will be at home I will send by e-mail copie oh those documents I had from NARA. The documents say that the plane was lost somewhere at the foothills of the Alps. In a radio call to the ground tower for an SOS the pilot did not say anything about the position so that the authotities suppose thr crash somewhere over the austrian alps. Other pilots supposed the lost due to terrific winds that shifted the plane till45,52N and 10,53E. When the plane arrived to this position I saw 3/4 nazis planes try to shut the last plane of the box of 7 planes. probably damaged by terrific wind the plane went in a spin and crashed on the mountain surroudin Lake Garda.I saw £ shutes but no fire. In about  two weeks I will be home and I will e-mail you. In any case there are some conflict by different records I hope in the next month to clear up with the help of you all this loss. have my best regards and always at your disposal! riva56