I've just begun researching my grandad.  He was KIA over Italy on 4-15-1944.  Just found out he was in the 737th.  Report indicates engine quite shortly after takeoff, plane crashed, entire crew killed.    The only thing I have is a list of crew members.  Any ideas on how I find out aircraft serial number or any other info surrounding the crash?

Goose -
There should be an Accident Report on File.
Click on research  , Top right this Page
Scroll down to Accident Reports.
What is Pilot's Name?
Mike

I have a MACR# but do not have the report.  Pilot's name was Richard C. Lawson

Goose,
 
Have checked the MACR database on this site as well as the listings on aviationarchaeology.com and can find no record of this bomb group or squadron losing an aircraft on April 15, 1944.  The web site for the 454th Bomb Group appears to be inactive, in fact I think there was a posting recently that the 454th association had been disbanded.  Only thing useful I was able to get off their web site was that the mission for 4/15/44 was to the rail yards in Bucharest.  What is the MACR number?  Since you don't have the actual MACR, where did you get the information you have?
 
Hal

Goose -
www.accident-report.com
Lists Richard C. Lawson 1944
Mike

Mike and Hal, the report I received is from accident-report.com.  The MACR# is 15354.  Apparently, this MACR was created long after the accident.  From what I can determine from the report is this: 1)   There was a request for info about the circumstances of the death of one of the crewmembers (maybe from a family member) 2)July 1944, the Personal Affairs Branch sends a letter to the 15th AF to say they do not have a MACR on file and would they forward a report.  3)Sept 1944, a Robert Sullivan  1st Lt. Air corps, Adjutant  writes "Subject enlisted man was Killed in Action in explosion in a B-24 type bombing plance over Italy.  Plane was in take-off formation when one engine died, and the plane went out of control, crashed, caught on fire and exploded."  4) In a seperate letter dated July 9, 1945 all of the crewmembers were listed with PFN#'s and crewmember positions.      I was hoping that there might be more info to gather.   
Did squadrons keep any type of "mission" log of what aircraft departed on missions and which ones returned?

Goose,
 
Yes, there were a variety of records kept at the group level of the aircraft participating in individual missions and the crews who flew each aircraft.  There are people on this forum who are expert on how to obtain these records, unfortunately I am not one of them.  Many of the Bomb Group web sites have accumulated considerable amounts of these documents but the 454th Association has disbanded and sent whatever they had to the US Army Heritage Center,  http://www.armyheritage.org/   (See the main index for the 454th Bomb Group, about the third thread down you will find  "About 454th BG Association Records")  As far as I can see your options include ordering a copy of the MACR either directly from the Archives (see the 'Research" tab at top of page) or from one of the commercial sources.  As you scroll through the Research section you will see that a whole range of relevant records are maintained at Maxwell AFB.  You could also search the previous threads in the 454th forum and see if anyone there might appear to have what you're looking for.  Re-reading your last post makes me wonder if this aircraft ever got off the ground.  You specifically say 'plane was in take-off formation' which could be taken as it lost the engine while it was still on the runway.  That might have put the accident report into a different category, one of our experts should know.  In the 'research' section you will also see information regarding Individual Deceased Personnel Files, you may want to request the file on your grandfather, it might provide additional information.  Again, I defer to our experts on that.  Good luck.
 
Hal

Goose,
try to write to AFHRA and oredr Rolls of Microfilm for 454 th BG. They are there narrative records , mission orders, records about history of BG and each BSs, records of accidents and more other very useful records.
Regards,
Viliam