My great-uncle and namesake, David Skalka, was a member of the 447, According to his POW record from the National Archives online file.  See below:
 
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=466&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=skalka&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=114913
 
Does anyone know anything about him?  Apparently he was a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and was a POW in Germany.  Unfortunately, our family never spoke of him much when I was a child since he apparently committed suicide some years after the war.
 
I would love to speak to anyone who knows anything about David Skalka.  All I have are a few pictures of him -- I should be receiving his Purple Heart from his niece (my aunt) soon and it may possibly have more paperwork about him.
 
Thanks to all,
 
David Skalka

David,
 
Your uncle, 2Lt David Skalka, was  the navigator on 44-6016 "TNT Katie" of the 447th BG, 711th Squadron, when it failed to return due to flak and crashed at Wilsnack, Germany on 15 March 1945. The MACR 13045 covering this crew is available free of charge by contacting Lynn.Gamma@MAXWELL.AF.MIL   Expect a wait of several weeks to receive this report.
 
Crew list:
Lt Henry D. Chandler (P) POW Brooklyn, NY
2Lt VElmer M. Ziefe (CP) KIA Marlin, WA
2Lt David Skalka (N) POW New York, NY
2Lt Sidney A. Murachver (B) POW Everett, MA
S/Sgt Robert M. Stephens (TT) KIA Manchester, GA
S/Sgt Costas A. Ivos (RO) KIA Lowell, MA
Sgt Robert C. Reinartson (BT) KIA Fort Dodge, IA
Sgt Allan B. Swem (WG) KIA Detroit, MI
Sgt John R. Piccardo (TG) KIA Stockton, CA
 
Perhaps one of the other survivors is still alive and can be contacted to gain possible information and the MACR may yield some help. Chandler may be hard to track down but Murachver is not a common name and may show up on a search engine for telephone numbers.  Good luck in 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

WAY TO GO VIC!

Murachver, Sidney A
565 Normandy L
Delray Beach, FL 33484-4831
(561) 498-5847
 
 Chandler, Henry D
51 Peace St
Dorset, VT 05251-9764
(802) 867-2417

Jim McCabe
My father, Lt. Mike McCabe(deceased 4/26/05), 307th BG, 424th BS, was a Navigator based at Morotai. Mission dates ranged from 2/20/45-8/1/45.

Jim,
 
It's just a blind hog-acorn thing!!!!
 
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

David,
My father was a navigator aboard the Blue Hen Chick, 43-38719 during the March 15, 1945 mission. He witnessed several B-17s from the 447th being shot down that day, including your great uncle's.  Within the last several months he spoke to Mr. Chandler and they had a wonderful conversation. Mr. Chandler gave my father a CD of a radio interview about his military career; that fateful day; and his life since.  Very entertaining piece.
 
Regards,
Rob K.

Rob,
     Do you know if my listing for Mr. Chandler is correct?  I'm confident re the listing for Mr Murachver. 

Jim McCabe
My father, Lt. Mike McCabe(deceased 4/26/05), 307th BG, 424th BS, was a Navigator based at Morotai. Mission dates ranged from 2/20/45-8/1/45.

Thank you so much for this information, gentlemen.  It's greatly appreciated.  Rob, if there's any way you can find out if Mr. Chandler's contact info listed above is correct, please let me know.  I'd love to speak to him about my great uncle. 

UPDATE 1/5/07 - 11:40AM:
 
Thanks to you all for the help!   I was able to have a terrific conversation with Henry Chandler this morning.  Turns out that he became quite friendly with my great uncle after the war and shared some wonderful stories with me about their time in the 447th and beyond.

Hello,
 
on this web sides you found additional information of this a/c:
 
http://www.447bg.com/aclist_5.html
 
http://www.flugzeugforum.de/forum/showthread.php?s=0b304c93dd6c (german)
 
Ulf

I'm search all information about the FG activities on April 17th 1945 in Europe.

David,
Found this to be interesting: your uncles last flight was on what I have been able to research was on the same plane as my fathers first mission of 6/4/44 on 44-6016. Or at least my dads pilot's first mission which may have been one of the missions he or his pilot had to fly with another crew to "see if they could cut it."
 
Ray

Interesting update:  It turns out that my Great Uncle has a patent for a Navigational Aid Device that he developed based on his experience as a Navigator during the war.  I obtained a copy of his patent in PDF form but I have no earthly idea what it means.  Anyone feel like taking a look at it and trying to figure out what its used for?