My Dad passed away last year and I recently found in his personal effects the report written following the return of my dad's squadron from their mission to release gliders at Arnhem on Sept 18, 1944 (61st TC 53 Sq) . His name was Donald W. Cox and he was the pilot of a C-47 that was hit by flak in the right engine. He crash-landed in a field in Holland killing a number of cows. The names of the other crew members were 2nd Lt. Maximillian A. Hanford, co-pilot; T/Sgt Robert E. Kline, Crew Chief; and S/Sgt Daniel E. Burr, radio operator. The plane was reported missing. However, my Dad returned home safe and sound. He never talked about the details of what happened and I often wondered how he returned from Holland. I wonder if anyone might remember this crash-landing. Other members of the squadron were 1st Lt James I. Teeter, 1st Lt. Harold V. Williams, and 1st Lt. Ralph L. McClintock. They are also listed on the report. My Dad unfortunately did not talk much about his experiences.

clea7dog,
My father was a pilot in the 59th squadron.  In my searches I came across an on line Air Force Historical paper that details the history of the 53rd.  In the paper (93 pages, more like a book) there are two photograhs of the crew upon their return to Barkston-Heath.   I have since tried to find the paper on the web again without success.  I did however save the paper in word format
 If you would like to give me you email I could arrange to send some or all the the paper to you.  or make arrangements to make copy for you
 
Tom B

Hello Tom,
I would be more than interested in the 93 pages on the history of the 53rd. I have copies of the photos of the crew upon their return to Barkston Heath but have never seen the history 53rd which would really be great to have. I've been doing all kinds of research and trying to collect as much as possible and this would be a bonus. I do not know what would be easiest for you. If you want to try to send it via email that would be fine. I could give it a try and print it off my computer. My email is on my member profile. If that doesn't work please let me know. Again, thanks a million. Hope to be talking to you again soon, Patricia P.S. I am amazed that you found this!

only found 1 C-47 from the 61TCG/ 53 sq that day
42-24206  pilot was 1lt R McClintock
chrashed east of Groesbeek
probably your father made after the crash contact with the americans of the 82 airborne divsion
so he returned
 

ron
http://www.mary-ruth.ontheweb.nl/

Patricia,

It seems that your Dad's personal effects may contain some info that has escaped official reports. As (also) the database of this website says, 61 TCG lost just one C-47 on 18 Sept 44, the one with Lt. McClintock (42-24206).

Your posts kind of have revealed the loss of a second C-47 of this TCG on 18 Sep 44 and I wonder if your Dad's reports have something about which C-47 he was flying?
Perhaps from the serial of this C-47 further research can be done....

Thanks & Regards,

Leendert
Brugge/Belgium

Leendert
Pat already has this info, but maybe you would like it for your records.
Plane: 42-32806
Pilot: 1st Lt. Donald W.Cox
Co-pilot: 2nd Lt. Maximillian A. Hanford
Crew Chief: T/Sgt Robert E. Kline
Radio Operator: S/Sgt Daniel E. Burr
 
806 crash landed, wheels up, near LZ "T" due to AA fire and flak. All survived 

Take Care

Randy

Leendert,
 
The loss of Lt. cox's plane did not escape the the official reports. It did however escape the Missin Air Crew Reports.
For nearly ten years I've been researching the C-47 losses during Market Garden. Nealy 80 were lost. I have written a manuscript and did send it for editing a few months ago to a friend. Whenever you check the MACR for C-47s during Market Garden, you won't get it to 80.
I learned from US archives that about 60% of the losses were recorded in a MACR. Some other losses are mentioned in other kind of reports, different kind of reports. And some plane losses are not recorded at all.
I know of three stories of lost planes (2 of them during Market Garden) that are not mentioned in any report. The only thing that stands is the story of one of the crewmembers. Without anything mentioned in a report or accounts of other crewmembers, it is hard to find the evidence to complete these stories.
Another problem with MACR is that the crash location given in it isn't always right. A dutch guy once wrote a small booklet about a lost 441st TCG C-47. The official report says it crashed somewhere in Germany. In fact, the plane crashed near the Maas river north of Cuijck, Holland.
 
Regards,
 
Hans

Hans,
 
Thanks for clarifying things.  My point is/was that even though the loss is officially reported somewhere, as no doubt it will be, this info nevertheless seems to be not so available to reconstruct things.
So we sometimes have to go back to the personal effects of crew members involved and start from there to see if it matches other info, official or unofficial.
 
Indeed, losses where no MACRs were filed or were necessary (crew safe, friendly territory...) are often the hardest ones for research.
 
Groet,
 
Leendert
 

Hello Tom,
This is Patricia! Long time since I have been online! I have been sick. Still cannot spend a great deal of time at the computer. I am trying to get back into things here slowly. I am wondering if you still might have the pages on the history of the 53rd? I think that is what it was? Do I remember correctly? Anyway, hope to hear from you and I apologize for the having been out of touch but I was unable to use the computer. Hope to be back on line more now. Regards, Patricia