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OCTOBER 11, 1944

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Lucky Partners
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OCTOBER 11, 1944

This afternoon I met a man who served with the 465th BG and who was shot down on October 11, 1944.  He was part of a make-up crew and didn't even know the pilot's name.  Nor does he remember anything about the mission or the target.  According to the MACR database two B-24s from the 465th were shot down that day, 44-41296 and 42-78391.  Does anyone have any information regarding these two aircraft and details concerning the crews, the mission, or the circumstances of their loss?  Joe Baugher reports that both were lost to anti aircraft fire over Austria but I have been unable to find anything else on the internet.  I have requested copies of the MACRs from Lynn Gamma but would appreciate any help while I wait for them to arrive.
 
Thanks,
Hal
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    shooshoobaby
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    RE: OCTOBER 11, 1944 (permalink)
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    Hal -
    10/11/44 Mission
    Motor Works Factories , Vienna
    Mike
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    Bob Hoskinson
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    RE: OCTOBER 11, 1944 (permalink)
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    Hal,

    Am quoting from the book "Missing In Action" by Gene F. Moxley re the 465th BG

    44-41296  Recall:  Red T, No nickname shown - MACR 9058  780th BS - target:   Diesel Plant, Vienna, Aust.
    Pilot - Richard C. Klug
    CoPilot - Walton L. Huey
    Nav - Robert P. Jackson
    Bomb - George E. Jurenee
    EngGnr - William R. Ratliff
    Radgnr - Bert D. Arzt
    Gnr - Billy B. King
    Gnr - Victor S. Ziklo
    Gnr - Bobbie T. Robertson
    Gnr - James T. Giblin

    KIA  - Huey, Jackson, Arzt, King, Giblin, Ziklo, and Robertson.
    POW - Klug, Jurenee, and Ratliff

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    42-78391 Recall: White I, Nickname: Quanto Costa  - MACR 9137 - 782nd BS - Target: Diesel Plant at Vienna Aust.
    Pilot - Russell I. Hongola
    CoPilot - Charles H. Metzger
    Nav - Ernest V. Grabowski
    Bomb - Charles A. Beckman
    Enggnr - Robert L. Glos
    RadGnr - Jesus Q. Geurrero
    ArmGnr - Arla L. Thomas
    Gnr - Wallace G. Jabben
    Gnr - Earl L. Eckhardt
    Gnr - Francis A. Craine

    Per German records:
    KIA - Beckman, Grabowski, Jabben, Eckhardt, and Craine
    POW - Hongola, Metzger, Glos, Thomas, and Geurrero

    Hope this will be of some help to you.

    Bob Hoskinson
    464th BG, 778th BS

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    Lucky Partners
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    RE: OCTOBER 11, 1944 (permalink)
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    Bob,
     
    Thanks for the info, sorry it's taken me so long to reply.  The name I'm looking for is Eugene Zarek.  He does not appear in either of the crew lists you've provided.  He told me he was part of a make-up crew.  Possibly one of the assigned crewmen was ill and Zarek was substituted at the last minute?  The NARA POW listings state that he was a 2nd Lt with the 465th and that he was taken prisoner in Austria on October 11, 1944.  So far, the only thing he remembers of the incident was that he was shot down on October 11, 1944.  I expect to see him today and will show him the crew lists you got from Moxleys book and see if it jogs his memory.  Still waiting for the MACRs to arrive, perhaps they will have the answer.  Again, thanks for your help.
     
    Hal
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