aardvark37
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Total Posts
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41
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Reward points
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386
- Joined: 10/20/2006
- Location: Poland
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Status: offline
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Seeking contact with Lt Francis A. CLOANINGER crewmembers, 42-51323, 454 BG, 737 BS
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01/31/2008 02:36:51 PM
Seeking contact with the crewmembers (or their relatives) from the B-24, 42-51323, 454 BG, 737 BS, MACR 7692, shot down on August 22, 1944 near Blechhammer North. The crew consisted of 10 airmen: 1st Lt Francis A. CLOANINGER – Pilot F/O Jack A. MICHELS – Co Pilot 2nd Lt Robert W. BALDWIN – Navigator 2nd Lt Chester M. WOODWARD - Bombardier S/Sgt Norbert R. KELLEY - Engineer S/Sgt Wilbur W. KREV – Radio Operator Sgt Robert E. ZEEDYK – Gunner Sgt Robert L. ARNOLD – Gunner Cpl Frank L. PATERKA – Gunner Sgt George H. ASHLINE - Gunner
All crewmembers survived and were captured by Germans. Last summer we found the crash place of that A/C. Among other remains we dug out the plate with the engine serial number CP 309047. It allowed a positive identification. We would like to gather some more information about the ship and the crew, we would also welcome any pictures. There is a picture of the A/C called “Shack Up†on this Website http://www.web-birds.com/15th/454/454th.html with the inscription pointing out that this is 42-51323, but from the other sources I know that the A/C with such serial number should have been “Natural Metal Finished†not “Olive Drab†painted like that one on the photo. Could anyone advise me on this subject? Thanks, Edward
<message edited by aardvark37 on 02/03/2008 06:37:04 AM >
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jsatpmp
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Total Posts
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1
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10
- Joined: 11/19/2008
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Status: offline
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Re: Seeking contact with Lt Francis A. CLOANINGER crewmembers, 42-51323, 454 BG, 737 BS
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11/19/2008 07:27:04 PM
My mom passed away last year, and I now have my Dad's Army Air Corps records from WWII. My dad, 1LT Arthur Salus, was a Navigator and was in the 454th B.G., 737th B.S. He was involved in 35 missions. Pilot of his crew was Roger Righetti (of San Luis Obispo, CA). I have a list of the 35 missions my dad flew, one of which was the Aug 22, 1944 mission to bomb Blechammer North. My dad never talked about his time in Italy in WWII, and I'm pretty sure that's because a lot of his friends in the Army Air Corps never made it home to the U.S. after the war.
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