After a long search, I have found a member of my grandfathers air crew alive and in Texas! His name is Don Strain . I found his name on a piece of paper by pure luck a few days ago.  I have been looking for anyone who knew my grandfather during the war for almost 2yrs.  
He confirmed of a crash landing at Zara Yugoslavia. He said it was an island area around the Adriatic. My grandfather was on board. He said two engines damaged by flak. He could not remember when the date was. He said they were helped by partisans( who had control of the area at that time) & a plane was sent for them from Italy a few days later. 
I will call him again but in the meantime I am hoping that  someone might know how to find a report. Or atleast direct me further in my quest.
Would there be other crash landing that landed in Zara from Jan-June 1945? I know that  Robert Guyton was piloting the plane.
Thanks again for your help & Thanks to all of you who encourage us to keep searching!
 

Michelle Babcock
Proud Granddaugher of
Cecil S. Kessler S/Sgt
Flight Engineer B-24
15th AAF, 304th Wing, 455th BG, 740th BS
San Giovanni, Italy
Jan. 1945- June 1945

Hi Michelle,
 
Glad to hear that you have found someone in your grandfather's crew alive and well. There are  not that many of those guys still around and it is a real treat to find one and be able to converse with them.
 
The 455th BG has a site that you can check on and may find helpful at www.awardphp.com/455th_BG_History.php
DaveTW1 is a forum member and more likely to be able to help you than anyone I know. He has access to a lot of 455th BG material and has been helpful to me in the past. I had a friend who was a pilot during that same time frame but he passed away a couple of years ago.
 
Hope this will help you with your search.
 
Vic

Vic Walzel, brother of 1st Lt Leland H. Walzel, bombardier with the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Squadron. KIA 6 March 1944 on his 25th mission.
www.lelandwalzel.150m.com

Thanks Vic,
Dave has been a great help in the past.  I hope to hear from him again.
I have been to that website before, but couldnt recall it. I will visit it soon. Last year I actually printed off the history and gave it to my aunt to read and the rest of the family.
Sorry to hear about your friend the pilot.
Keep encouraging us!
Michelle

Michelle Babcock
Proud Granddaugher of
Cecil S. Kessler S/Sgt
Flight Engineer B-24
15th AAF, 304th Wing, 455th BG, 740th BS
San Giovanni, Italy
Jan. 1945- June 1945

Could you ask Mr. Stain if he knew my father ssgt Paul f. Greland, 455 BG, 740 BS?
 
                                                                                       John Greland

John,
I spoke with Mr. Strain last night & asked about your father. He said he didnt know that name. He may recognize the face.
Mr. Strain was in San Giovanni from Jan. 1945- June 1945.
Can you fill me in on what your father position was on the aircraft, when he was there and possibly what crew he was with. If they happened to be there at the same time- send me a picture and I will send it to him.
Michelle

Hi Michelle,
 
Curiosity has gotten ahold of me concerning Mr. Strain. I remember watching a young man by the name of Odie (I think) Strain playing shortstop for a semi-pro bases team in Sinton, TX back in the early 1950s and wonder if he might have been a son. Where does Mr. Strain live in Texas, if you don't mind sharing and I understand if you don't choose to reveal his location?
 
Vic

Vic Walzel, brother of 1st Lt Leland H. Walzel, bombardier with the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Squadron. KIA 6 March 1944 on his 25th mission.
www.lelandwalzel.150m.com

Dear Vic,
Mr. Strain lives near San Antonio. Too bad he was not aware of the 455 BG Association. They had their reunion in San Antonio last October.
He has a son was born after the war was over. Im not sure if he would be old enough to pay in the 50's.  I will ask- it could possibly be a relative. He told me he spent alot of the 60, 70, and 80 working in various countries building gas plants.
Planning on speaking with him next week sometime.
I will keep you posted.
Michelle

Michelle Babcock
Proud Granddaugher of
Cecil S. Kessler S/Sgt
Flight Engineer B-24
15th AAF, 304th Wing, 455th BG, 740th BS
San Giovanni, Italy
Jan. 1945- June 1945

Michelle,
 
Thanks for the info about Mr. Strain. It doesn't sound as if this could be his son but maybe a younger brother. My brother was 14 years older than me and it could be a similar situation. I don't know what ever happened to the player. Please give Mr. Strain my regards and thanks for his service.
 
Vic

Vic Walzel, brother of 1st Lt Leland H. Walzel, bombardier with the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Squadron. KIA 6 March 1944 on his 25th mission.
www.lelandwalzel.150m.com

Michelle,
If you would, would you please ask Mr Strain if his Bomb Squadron was involved with a trip to Russia. My late wifes cousin was a Radio/Radar tech with the 455th BG. I asked him what BS he was in?, his reply, neither one, he repaired equiptment for the whole 455th BG. He started with them in  Africa and then onto Italy. He is now pushing 87 yrs old and his memory is pretty shaky. He said he did 4 missions on a B-24 and 2 were to Russia where they delivered something, but were not allowed to leave the close proximity of the aircraft (under Russian Guard). His sole purpose on each mission was Radar equiptment failure backup.
In closing, as to the San Antonio River walk, We loved the ambiance and ALL the eateries. Visited many times.

Fair Winds and following seas.
John, (GM 3/C USS Frost DE 144)

Kin to LT. John W. Farnkopf
15th AAF, 52 FG, 4th FS; Madna, Italy
MIA 11/11/44 remains found 12/8/53

I would be glad to ask him if he was involved in such a mission.  Mr. Strain was the Radio Operator.
I remember my grandpa saying a few times that in fifty years I can talk about certain things.
Dont know what that is yet. My papa has had  Alzheimers for 14 plus years.
Their pilot was Robert Guyton who was an instructor in the states before going to Italy. They formed up the crew in Holyoke, MA - then onto Charleston for Overseas Training.
He has spoken very highly of his pilot. I was told the flew lead most of the time.
During part of his (Don)time in Italy he was sent to a hospital in North Africa for six weeks, not long after they crashed near Zara.  He said the plane they flew from Mitchell was brand spanking new and that they did keep it with them(which didnt happen that much) & that was the plane that crashed in Zara.  His memory is pretty good. Although, I have asked many questions that he just didnt recall. Such as a place they went for R&R. It was somewhere that the Adriatic and the Mediterranean met. Maybe you or someone else might know where this is.
By the way, I have a picture of my grandpa and his crew flying another plane - it must have been taken when Mr. Strain was in the hospital because another man was listed as the R.O.  This is why I didnt know about him.  I got lucky by finding a small pocket notebook my grandpa kept while in Italy.
Can you tell Im excited! Mr Strain has been filling in the blanks.
 
I plan on speaking to him next week. I will let you know what I can find out.
Michelle

Michelle,
My wifes cousin Paul's memory is faded, but one of the things that stand out in his mind is doing R&R on Isola di Capri. I dont know if this was a standard rest place for the 15th or where he decided to go on his own. He remembers Russia, R&R, and B-24s blowing up on take off. His two biggest fears were flying and the sound of a B-24 blowing up. A kind gentleman from this forum had sent me photos of the wooden building Paul worked in and of Paul and the guys he worked with. He was very happy to get the pictures to show his son, but he did'nt remember the bldg. or the guys. Paul lost his two best friends in the war that he grew up with, his kid brother, a bronze and silver star recipient, infantryman on 12,24,44 and my wifes brother, P-51 pilot, on 11,11,44.
Good luck with your search and it's nice to have something to get excited about.
  

Fair Winds and following seas.
John, (GM 3/C USS Frost DE 144)

Kin to LT. John W. Farnkopf
15th AAF, 52 FG, 4th FS; Madna, Italy
MIA 11/11/44 remains found 12/8/53

I too had heard of di Capri but that didnt sound correct to Mr. Strain.  I certainly can understand the fear of flying. Not a fan. Im sure it stems from hearing those  flying stories when I was a child.
 
This forum is full of kind gentlemen of whom I am thankful for.  Im sorry to hear that Paul lost so many people he cared about. 
I will keep in contact.
Thanks so much,
Michelle

Dear Janos,
I spoke with Mr. Strain and he said he the only time he was involved with Russia was aiding the front lines near St. Valentine tank works.
He did not know of the trips your wifes cousin was involved in.
Im sorry I couldnt find the answer for you.
Michelle

Michelle,
Thank you for your reply. It is nice to hear back from you. As my Rebel compatriots would say, "You good people".
 
John (aka janos)

Fair Winds and following seas.
John, (GM 3/C USS Frost DE 144)

Kin to LT. John W. Farnkopf
15th AAF, 52 FG, 4th FS; Madna, Italy
MIA 11/11/44 remains found 12/8/53