ORIGINAL: macjax1969
My grandad Gunner, St. Sgt. Robert Kunselman was in WWII and was killed there. He was best friends with a Tech. Sgt. John. J. Murphy that my family had been looking for ever since then. Murphy had a wife named Wilma, but that is all we know about him, not a home address or anything else. They were in the Army Air Force together. Can anyone help? I am not even sure if he and Wilma are still alive.
I've read your last post regarding same issue + answers. You gan go to 319th BG website
http://www.319thbombgroup.com/ and post your request there. They also have a coloumn for "Lost Buddies".
You can also contact the 17th/319th/452nd Bomb Group /Wing Reunion Association by Ted Baker. The address is:
17TH B.G.R.A., 453 Hamilton Avenue, Almont ; Michigan 48003-8620. Their Newsletter, The SORTIE, is issued four times a year, maybe they can post your request there, too.
Added a photo showing six 319th BG Marauders preparing to land on Decimomannu, Sardinia.
According to the information from your last post about your granddad, I can supply the following information:
319th BG 437th BS lost one Marauder on August 9th 1944. This was B/N 13, 42-107546. Pilot was Lt Harrel O. Quattlebaum. The a/c ran out of gas on return flight and crashed into mountain area on Sardinia (base was Decimomannu). No MACR issued, but there is an accident report available, check here:
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/Aug1944O.htm The target was Bergamo/Seriate A/D Disp # 1 at the foot of the Alps in Northern Italy, northeast of Milan (mission # 325). 36 Marauders were dispatched, 1 lost. Flight Commander was Major C.R. Meyers, Flight Leader was 1st Lt C.R. Morton.
<message edited by deefeater on 01/03/2006 03:30:52 PM >