Mr. Perry Lane!
I will send you more information to your e-mail address. 319th BG and 17th BG have cooperated for some years regarding Reunions, and still do. I will send you contact information that will help you further. I will also try to help you get direct contact with 319th BG as the veterans there might also be able to help.
41-34874 of 440th BS, pilot Lt. Daniel H. Callahan, was damaged by fighters and ditched. Unfortunately, I have no info about it's Battle Number (on tail).
Here's from 319th BG Combat Diary for February 3rd 1944: "No bombs were dropped on the Civita Castellana bridge because of overcast, but the formation tangled with eighteen to twenty Me-109s. We lost one ship and knocked down three fighters, probably destroyed four more and damaged two. The ship lost was last seen diving down followed by two fighters. (Mission # 162). "His Butler's Sister," a comedy with DIANNA DURBIN, was shown in the briefing room tonight".
This mission was #162 for 319th BG, 36 Marauders participated. Flight Commander on the mission was Major C.G.Robinson and Flight Leader 1st Lt. P.G. Matthews. The target was a Rail Road Bridge 4 miles North East of Civita Castellana in Italy.
Survivors after ditching were:
1st Lt. Daniel H. Callahan (Pilot)
1st Lt. William G. Williams (Co-Pilot)
S/Sgt. Joseph E. Rafferty (Engineer-Gunner)
The surviving crew members were rescued after nearly 5 hrs by american subchasers. They returned to their squadron on February 7th. Added scan some 440th BS Marauders dropping their bomb load.