42-51322, 767 BS(MACR 10742)  went down on Dec 17, 1944 during  the mission to Blechhammer.

Just reading the MACR and found it very strange
The ship was last seen in the area of Muglitz (Mohelnice) Czechoslovakia after being attacked by the fighters.
German KU report indicates that the plane crashed in the area of Gleiwitz (today in Poland), 7 crewmembers were captured by Germans in the area of Rybnik (approx. 25 km south of Gleiwitz).
But... the pilot - Lt. Lang claimed that the plane crashed 25 km south of Budapest, Hungary which is over 150 miles south of Gleiwitz/Rybnik area. the pilot and 3 other crewmembers were picked up by the Russians

IMHO the only explanation is that the plane after being attacked by fighters was heading in the north-East direction, where over Rybnik 7 of the crew bailed out, than the ship made a turn and started to head to the south and crashed in the Hungary, where rest of the crew bailed out.
Is this correct?

Regards,
Edward

Edward
 
I also read MACR #10742, the plane indeed was under attack by fighters, other aircraft personel who made statements concerning the loss, said the plane left formation with one engine on fire,  and fighters were still chaseing,
when the bomb-bay blew up, and the plane broke in two and fell away.
 
Terry

Edward:
I fogot to mention of the the crewmen 1st.Lt. Charles Lang Sr. stated, that they left the formation, 150mi NW of Budapest & the plane crashed, 50-ft  from the bank of the Danube River, approx. 25mi. S of Budapest, Hungary.
 
He also stated the target was a oil refinery at Blachehammer, and the route flown was west & north-west of Budapest, Hungary.
 
Hope this helps
 
Terry T.

ORIGINAL: Terry T.

Edward

I also read MACR #10742, the plane indeed was under attack by fighters, other aircraft personel who made statements concerning the loss, said the plane left formation with one engine on fire,  and fighters were still chaseing,
when the bomb-bay blew up, and the plane broke in two and fell away.

Terry

 
Terry,
 
And this is very strange. Broken planes usually couldn't fly some hundred miles from the place where they broke in two parts.
Ed

If you come to some conclusion, I would love to know..my father was one of the unlucky on that mission that ended up a POW.. about 20 or so years ago two others from that flight showed up at my dad's house to talk about the war. Apparently they didn't hold back their feelings of the pilot who stayed longer with the plane after giving the bail out order, and  was picked up by the Russians, instead of the germans.