Fred Clepper
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"Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076
I would like any information regarding the R.K. Wiley crew of the aircraft "Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076. This aircraft made it through the war and was salvaged in 1946. I would like to contact any surviving crew member or relative of this crew.
My Uncle, SSgt. Nick Kish, was the regular nose gunner on this crew but died when he was shot down over Hungary while flying a mission on the "American Maid".
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jpeters140
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Re: [Fred Clepper] "Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076
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 It would help to identify the Type of aircraft, AAF (8th or 15th) and Bomb Group. If he was shot down over Hungary, it could either be a Heavy B-17,B-24, or one of the Mediums....A-20, A-26,B-25 or B-26. I looked up the tail number in Joe Baugher's list and it is a B-24...the loss over Hungary told me it was the 15th AAF..but the Bomb Group is not identified. What date was he shot down ?...... If you know the date, you can check the MACR d/b at the top of this page, identify the MACR number, with the tail number of the downed aircraft; go to the Research section, also at the top of this page, follow the directions and ask for copies of both the MACR and his IDPF. MACR stands for Missing Air Crew Report, and the IDPF is his Individual Deceased Personnel File...when you write or call for the MACR and the IDPF be sure to mention the request is under the FOI or Freedom Of Information Act. Also when you identify the Bomb Group, you can access the Bomb Group for the BG Association for any further questions,you may have ,that the MACR and IDPF did not answer. Jim :-) [signature]
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Fred Clepper
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Re: [jpeters140] "Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076
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Jim,
Thanks for the reply. I have the MACR and have written for the IDPF on the American Maid. I also have contacted the three surviving crew members from the American Maid. This plane was in the 15th AF, 343rd Squadron and was shot down on June 26, 1944. S/Sgt Nick Kish didn't bail out because he couldn't find his chute. It is believed that another crew member may have knocked the chute out of the forward gear doors in his haste to exit.
I am now trying to locate any of the crew from Nick's assigned aircraft, The "Whoda Thunkit". The pilot was Capt. R.K. Wiley. I would like this information to round out my story about the incident.
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jpeters140
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Re: [Fred Clepper] "Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076
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The 343rd Sq was in the 98th BG....I suggest contacting the 98th BG Association to see if any of the crew you are looking for survived and are on the 98th BG Association Newsletter mailing list. They may be able to get you Capt R.K. Wiley's members of his crew. If you need to, go to the [url "http://www.whitepages.com"]www.whitepages.com[/url] or/and several other search engines and see if you can locate the crewmembers. I have several of those search engines in my Favorites List, if you need help, with those. I flew on B-17s in the 99th BG from Italy, however I joined the 98th BG Association as well. Jim :-) [signature]
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Fred Clepper
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Re: [jpeters140] "Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076
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Jim,
I have joined the 98th BG Association and purchased the book "Force for Freedom - The Legacy of the 98th". Herb Harper has been very helpful in my original quest so I guess I will contact him again to see if he knows anything about the Wiley Crew. Herb knew the tail gunner on the Wiley Crew who also took a ride with another crew and was shot down. His name was Alexander MacArthur. Alex was captured and spent the rest of the war in a prison camp. He is now deceased. I have tried the white pages but it is difficult when you search the whole country. It's easier if you know where the people are living.
Thanks,
Fred
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Fred Clepper
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Re: [****] "Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076
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Phil,
Thanks for the information on the B-24 research page. I have Registered and look forward to using this resource. I appreciate all of the help I have received from this group as well.
Fred
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barneybolac
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barneybolac
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KenWiley
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I am the oldest son of R. K. Wiley, Pilot of B-24, plane name Whoda Thunkit, 15th Air Force, 98th Bomb Group, Lecce Italy until October 21st, 1944. I have some interesting information, including the original pencil nose art drawing for this plane (B-24), drawn by Nick Kish, nose gunner, and the explanation written by my dad, R. K. Wiley. I would like to communicate with Fred Clepper, nephew of Nick Kish. I also have crew photo, and picture of Whoda Thunkit with the name painted on the plane, and the nose art partially completed. If anyone has any information regarding the personnel assigned to this plane, I would be interested in communicating with them. I do not know all of their names, and do not know if any are still living. R. K. Wiley was born on November 24th, 1921, and passed away on January 18th, 2006.
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KenWiley
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Re: [jpeters140] "Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076
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I read your post, and wanted to let you know that I am R. K. Wiley's oldest son. I would like to communicate with anyone that knew my dad, or anything about his crew. It was interesting to learn about Alexander MacArthur, and was glad that he survived being shot down. I just bought the same book you referred to, and saw in the preview on B & N's site reference to the attack on Ploesti, Romania on April 5th, 1944. I have Dad's flight log, and it shows he was on that mission, with a total flying time of 7 hours, 35 (or maybe 36) minutes, a little difficult reading that number.
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Herb Harper
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Re: [jpeters140] "Whoda Thunkit" S/N 42-73076
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ALL:
According to my records, R. K. Wiley flew six missions to Ploesti. POSSIBLY seven, but the name spelling is a little different.
Herb Harper, FORMER 98th historian
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