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 LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS
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ssg keay

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LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/03/2006 07:34:17 AM
Has anyone got information of the crew (names) and about the aircraft?  This is very important as this plane, still MIA, might have been located!!!  Danny
deefeater

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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/03/2006 10:37:53 AM
Have some conflicting information about this Marauder. Have info that it belonged to 397th BG 599th BS, but elsewhere found that it was X2-C of 397th BG 596th BS. Serial 43-34430, MACR 11985. Pilot Lt. William P. Cook, registered as MIA December 23rd 1944. The MACR will have names of the crew etc.
PJP51

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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/04/2006 04:32:54 AM
From the ABMC site (387BG !):


William P. Cook


First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # O-749470
559th Bomber Squadron, 387th Bomber Group, Medium

Entered the Service from: California
Died: 23-Dec-44
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Luxembourg American Cemetery
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
 
 
From the USAAF Chronology:
 
'Ninth Air Force: In Germany, around 500 B-26s and A-20s attack rail
bridges, communications targets, villages, a rail junction and targets of
opportunity losing 31 bombers; fighters fly bomber escort, armed
reconnaissance, and patrols (claiming 100+ aircraft downed and 3 airfields
bombed), and support ground forces between Werbomont, Belgium and Butgenbach,
Germany along the N battleline of Bulge and the US III, VIII, and XII Corps
forces along the S battleline of the Bulge. '
<message edited by PJP51 on 11/04/2006 04:51:23 AM >
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deefeater

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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/04/2006 05:37:08 AM
Thanks for update!
 
In the book "Return Of The Marauder Men" Lt. Cook is also listed on "The Wall Of The Missing" at Luxembourg Cemetery, and noted as belonging to 559th BS 397th BG. 559th BS was part of 387th BG, so it's confusing.
 
His service number in book is identical to that at ABMC-site. If we turn back to 387th BG we know the names of the pilots shot down that day and the MACR (from 387th BG history book):
  1. Lt. William O. Pile; 42-107598; TQ-G; Miss Kam; 559th BS 387th BG; MACR 11464
  2. Lt. Wayne E. Church; 42-107577; TQ-N; 559th BS 387th BG; MACR 11403
  3. Lt. Vernon O. Staub; 41-31657; TQ-W; Mississippi Mudcat; 559th BS 387th BG; MACR 11465
  4. Lt. Matthew J. Pusateri; 42-95869; TQ-F; The Front Burner II; 559th BS 387th BG; MACR 11482
  5. Lt. George E. Stith; 42-96309: KS-G; Shirley D; 557th BS 387th BG; MACR 10877

There is no Lt. Cook in the 387th BG history book's list of 15 men KIA on December 23 1944. Four men from 387th BG 559th BS  KIA Dec 23 1944 is buried at Luxembourg Cemetery; and 17 men from 397th BG , of those 10 from 599th BS.
 
Here's a link that supports the assumption that Lt. Cook belonged to 397th BG:
http://www.b-26mhs.org/content/view/200/119/
 
 
 
PJP51

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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/04/2006 06:12:05 AM
deefeater,

Seems we have a little mystery here....Let's wait what Danny comes up with.

Take care,

Paul
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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/04/2006 07:08:53 AM
Hello,
 
in same cases is the date for MIA on the abmc web side not the killed date. It's nearly 1 year later. So we found on abmc 23-Dec-44, the killed date is possible Dec-43.
 
Ulf
I'm search all information about the FG activities on April 17th 1945 in Europe.
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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/04/2006 09:59:51 AM
Hallo Ulf,
 
Danke ! I'm aware of such cases but the USAAF Chronology gives no Ninth Air Force activity for let's say Dec 23 1943....
 
Gr.
 
Paul
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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/04/2006 02:44:58 PM
Guys, I am just as confused now as I belive he belonged to the 599th BS, which in turn belonged to the 397th BG, while ABMC lists him as 559th BS, 387th BG.  Now I still have no clue, drats!!!
PJP51

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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/04/2006 03:10:33 PM
Danny,
 
Things won't come easy...apart from the BS/BG issue, any more news on the spot?
 
Paul
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ssg keay

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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/04/2006 03:57:14 PM
Ok, he was with the 397th BG.  I talked to a relative of one of the crew. MACR is on the way.  Danny
P.S. Spot is in Beligum (by less then a km).  Will contact Peter Cellis to see what Belgian AF does about MIA recovery.
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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/05/2006 06:52:33 AM
I can confirm that a William P. Cook was a pilot in the 397BG/599BS, and was KIA 12/23/1944.  He is listed as missing, and memorialized at Hamm, Luxembourg.  This comes from an entry in the 397th BG roster.
Don Hoch, son of 1st Lt. Sterling P. Hoch (397BG/596BS)
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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/05/2006 07:02:42 AM
Don,
 
Why is he listed with the ABMC as a 559th Bomber Squadron, 387th Bomber Group, Medium member?
 
 
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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/05/2006 07:16:13 AM
I don't have an answer for that one right now.  If I can get to a library tomorrow, I can try to review the microfilm records about the 12/23/1944 mission by the 397th BG attacking the Eller River Bridge.  Also, will review the 599th BS records if I have them.
Don Hoch, son of 1st Lt. Sterling P. Hoch (397BG/596BS)
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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/06/2006 12:23:42 PM
Got to review the AFHRA microfilm with the 599th BS monthly history reports.  W. P. Cook is listed as one of the 599th pilots for mission 146, 23 Dec 1944, with a target of Eller RR Bridge (pilots Stephensen, Eiden, Neu, McCarthy, Dryden, Cook W. P., Schulze, Senart, McCorkie).  As well, that is the last mission he is listed as having flown as a pilot for the 599th.  However, he is NOT one of the 38 MIA listed in the same monthly report for the 23 Dec mission.  In fact there is no further mention of him as far as I can tell in any monthly report.  The mystery continues.
Don Hoch, son of 1st Lt. Sterling P. Hoch (397BG/596BS)
ssg keay

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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/06/2006 03:21:29 PM
Hi all and thanks for your replies.  First I would like to mention that the ABMC site is full of issues/problems.  Secondly, I have managed to locate the family of one of LT Cook's crew members (they were actually looking for their loved one in a forum online.  I am trying to find relatives of LT Cook and the other members, so I can inform them to contact Casualty Affairs to give a DNA sample, in case this is the right plane we found.  Also, I know that a Evin Cook was talking about this plane online a while back, but there was no reply to link in this forum :(
 
Danny
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RE: LT Cook, MIA, 23 Dec 44, 559th BS - 11/30/2006 03:52:57 PM
Today all the information on 1LT Cook's crash-site was turned over to the proper US authorities with the hope of a rapid response (within a year or two) and the resolution on another 6 MIA cases.  Still have only located one family
:( Danny

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