454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw"

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (Eisenstein)

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:16:22 GMT

Dear Scott
Forgive my late reply to this query as I seemed to have missed the follow-up question. The answer is no, he was never recovered. Half the men that bailed out were rescued by air/sea rescue, and the rest were never found. His buddy, Eddy Lundy who was the Bombardier and a member of his 'original' crew reported that he saw my uncles chute open but that he (Eddy) was nearly drowned and wasn't sure how he survived very turbulent seas. (They were flying as replacements in another crew). My uncle had been a spectacular athlete, and its anyones guess what went wrong -- tangled in chute or ? Eddy wrote our family a long letter telling the story as best he could. I don't believe he was able to return to the theater of operations after this incident (according to the Capt. of their original crew). My Uncle was the only member of his original crew who didn't make it thru the war. Just one of many sad ironies and the capricious nature of war.

Regarding my uncle's remains I was able to submit Mitochondria DNA from his sister to the war department (shortly before her death at age 95) in the off chance any remains were ever found. A forum member from Yugoslavia told me that fisherman were pulling up nets full of remains for many years after the war.

Thanks for your interest -- hope you see my tardy reply.

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (Eisenstein)

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:12:43 GMT

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (Wildcat55)

Sat, 12 May 2012 11:37:55 GMT

Hi Kristen,

Sorry for the delay but here is the Mission Report details from the B0601 CD from AFHRA
and some other information that I have gathered.

9 Sept 1944 Enemy Evasion Aid Report
Ploesti, place of trouble 40° 54'N 26° 00'E
Pilot McAulife, John H F/O 0762052
CP     McFall, Robert F 2Lt 0753515
NAV   Bennett, Clifford H F/O T124915
BOMB Petersen, Quentin R 2Lt 0772120
ENG   Benson, Clifford L Sgt 31262704
RO     Flanagan, Martin F Jr S/Sgt 16949892
AEG Bond, Harris L. S/Sgt 16949892
AEG Winder, John J CPL 3376904

Report states no further information
No witnesses

17 August 1944, Mission 98

29 A/C took off
4 Early returns: 3 Engine trouble, 1 gunner w/o parachute (I bet he got chewed out when he got back but crew was probably happy they did not have to fly Ploesti). 1 A/C returned prior to bombing due to engine trouble.

24 A/C bombed primary 232 x 500 lb or 58 tons of RDX 0.1 nose fuse and 0.025 tail @ 1057 hours at 22,000ft

16 A/C returned @ 1415 hours, 3 A/C at Bari, 2 A/C at San Pancrazio, 1 A/C lost @ 1100 Ploesti direct hit exploded, 4 A/C missing

51 men MIA, 1 man killed, 2 wounded (I am presumming the man killed and wounded were on the A/C coming back to base as they goup did not know the status of the other crews that went down or are missing)

Results: Target obscured by smoke pots and smoke from previous bombing. Weather ship reports partially clear.

No fighters were seen or encountered

FLAK: Intense, accurate, heavy @ Ploesti
FLAK: Intense, Accurate, heavy @ Campina
FLAK: Moderate, Heavy @ _ristina, Svode

Observations: 500 wagons (rail) in PLOVDIV M/Y (Marshalling Yard) @ 1200hrs from 15,000ft (Plovdiv, Bulgaria 42°08'25.33"N 24°44'40"E)

Enemy A/C: 20-25 A/C of all types on ground @1150 hours 15000ft Craiova A/D (Aerodrome) 15 SEA on ground @1016 hours 22,000ft

WEATHER: Clear to Yugoslavia coast, scattered cumulus and alto cumulus which increase to 10/10 near Danube (river) then decreased to clear at target.
Return: undercast altocumulus with tops @ 14,000ft from Danube to Yugo coast then clear.

COURSE: Base (41°14'09"N 15°48'07"E) to TP ULCINJ (41°55'N 19°13'E Montenegro)
To TP SVODE (Bulgaria 43°01'N 23°52'E)
To TP VOLAHA ( I could not find this place on Google Maps)
To TP DOTOFENIL (I could not find this place on Google Maps)
To KP DRAGASANI (44°39'N 24°15'E Romania)
To IP COJASCA (44°43'N 25°51'E Romania)
To Target (Astra Romana Oil Refinery 44°56'N 28°04'E) Axis of attack is 35° Magnectic

NOTE: This mission report did not have the Lat/Lon for the places to turn (TP-Turning Point) and KP (Key Point) and IP (Initial Point) so I have used Google Maps to approxmate their locations. Latter Mission reports are better with details.

There is no RP or Rally Point listed in this report only the following:

On a heading of 240° for 1/2 hours and then 210° until 50 miles from Yugo coast then heading 270° until leader could tune in Foggia Rance then flew radio compass in to base.

Svode is NE of Sofia where there were enemy A/C stationed and Plovdiv is SE of Sofia, trying to recreate the mission path for this group is difficult. Once I get the CD C0110 I will have the 304th Wings mission reports and hopefully it will have the course in more detail.

With the observations in the report at Craiova and Plovdiv you would believe the crews passed these ways to the target and on return using their times of observations before target time and after.

1 A/C @ 1100 hrs over target FLAK left formation with #1 & #2 eng on fire
1 A/C @ 1100 hrs over target FLAK left formation #1&#2 feathered #2 smoking possible spiralling
1 A/C @ 1100 hrs over target FLAK left formation #4 feathered @ 1110
1 A/C unknown

Unfortunately this mission report does not have a sheet showing the formation setup as the Septmeber mission reports do.

Evasion reports were listed right after the mission report:

A/C #NA Lt Col James A Gun III 739th
A/C #576 3 crew me missing 738th
A/C #182 Pilot Joe R Crwford 738th
A/C #504 Pilot John D Mason 738th
A/C #NA Pilot John H MCAuliffe 737th

Some abreviations in the report were not clear such as SEA as a type of A/C and the A/C below Identified as B.T.O. could possbly be the abbreviation for "Bombing Through Overcast"

From looking at MACR, B24bestweb, Joe Baugher's web site for A/C serial numbers, CD B0601 AFHRA and Mr. Foreman's book of B-24 Nose Art I have Identified these A/C as the following

42-78367 McAuliffe 737th (Yakamaw) [MACR 7462)
42-78504 Mason 738th (B.T.O.) [MACR 7456]
42-50576 Porter 738th [MACR 7457)
42-78182 Crawford 738th (Rough Rider) [MACR 7628/7632]
41-28790 Gunn 739th (Bright Eyes)

This mission is where Lt Col Gunn was shot down and then escaped with the helped by the leading Rumanian Air Force Ace Capt Carl Cantacuzino of the Rumania Air Force. The Russians were moving in and the young King Mihai had switched to the Allied side. Lt Col Gunn was placed in the radio compartment of the ME109 with the large painted American flag on the side and flown back to his base. Within 12 hours of his arrival and debriefing to the commanders in Italy 38 B-17s were headed toward Bucharest to fly out American and British crews ahead of the oncoming Russians and the Germans who were taking their displeasure of Romania turning sides

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (trickyfancy)

Tue, 08 May 2012 14:05:02 GMT

thank you!

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (AlanStarcher)

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:25:26 GMT

trickyfancy
(i really wish i could see a list of missions?)

You might want to contact forum member Wildcat55 in this sub-forum -- it looks that he has a CD from AFHRA with the bomb group records.

-- Alan

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (AlanStarcher)

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:15:30 GMT

WillowRun
There is a reference in Forman's B-24 Nose Art Directory to a B-24G-16-NT for 42-78367. Remember that all aircraft are listed by their serial numbers and there is no specific book or link that I have found containing an "alpha listing by nose art" as it is considered "unofficial," it changed and there were so many duplicates.

Steven, your post has me somewhat confused; my copy of Forman's Nose Art Directory does have a list of aircraft by their nose art names alphabetically, and alphabetically by bomb group. The listing for "Yakamaw" attaches that name to 42-78367 of the 454th/737th, and states that there were no photos available. (Your point is well-taken, though, concerning duplicate names and changes.)

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (25Kingman49)

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:15:28 GMT

Trudy,

Thanks for your kind words after my initial FUBAR regarding the 1943 raids. The stories of every aircraft of every mission whether they returned to base or not are all quite compelling. The War Department combat videos and documentaries do add clarity to the events on the ground as well as in the air. This gives focus to the Generals involved in planning and strategies of the missions sending these young aircrews to the Target of the day and also gives some insight into the day to day lives of the men performing these missions.

It is unclear to me who is uploading these videos to You Tube, but they are performing a remarkable service to the veterans and their families. There are many videos that have been uploaded on almost every subject of missions during WW II and it is always worth searching there, as if a picture is worth a thousand words the value of a video is untold. Not to foul up this thread, I see in your signature line that your Uncle was MIA, was he ever found?

Scott

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (Eisenstein)

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:01:41 GMT

Scott
Thanks for the reference to the videos. I can't believe I haven's seen them before. So many of us yearn to gain some understanding of what it was like for our boys (and family members) to go up time after time, encountering flak and fighters to and from the targets. I've done a great deal of reading of first hand accounts, but the videos add yet another dimension. So young and so brave. It never fails to amaze me.
Thanks again.
Trudy

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (25Kingman49)

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:59:59 GMT

Kristen,

Just for the record according to Joe Baugher: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_4.html the full S/N designation of this aircraft is: North American B-24G-16-NT-42-78367 (454th BG) lost Aug 17, 1944, Rumania

The “NT” in the serial number denotes this aircraft was produced by North American at Dallas/Grand Prairie, TX (Plant B)
Source: http://www.warbirdsandairshows.com/Aircraft%20manufacturing/usaircraftmanufacturewwii.htm

Scott

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (25Kingman49)

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:32:29 GMT

Why they ended up in Greece is unclear; as they were on their own and no longer with the group several possibilities come to mind. Flying characteristics of the flak damaged Liberator, evasion from enemy aircraft, avoiding ground defense anti-aircraft locations. All things considered, the flight crew did a pretty good job of almost getting them home. The details of their ground adventure returning to base would make a good book. The reality is that similar stories of this type would also be true for every aircraft that was shot down, all with different outcomes.

Scott

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (trickyfancy)

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:13:41 GMT

WOW! i guess they DID break away from their box huh? geez they werent even close... all credit given to the fact the this was the 3rd most highly defended target, ill give'em a break. MUCH APPRECIATED SCOTT!

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (25Kingman49)

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:43:16 GMT

Kirsten,

Here is a G Earth map showing the locations involved; given the location of the bailout and crash site although walking was undoubtedly involved, I would assume there would also have been a boat or aircraft involved in their return to base.
[H] Bari, Italy Foggia Airfield Complex
[T] Ploesti, Romania; TARGET
[C] Trikkala, Greece Approx area of crash and bailout

Scott

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (trickyfancy)

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:23:15 GMT

FANTASTIC! "met up with him in a villiage.." Oh my word.
thanks for making my day :)

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (WillowRun)

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:17:00 GMT

Kristen, The Membership here has done a good job so far assisting you in tracking down some of the information you are seeking. In reference to the "Nose Art," I have found no pix in the http://www.b24bestweb.com/ link for either Yakamaw or Defenseless as yet. There is a reference in Forman's B-24 Nose Art Directory to a B-24G-16-NT for 42-78367. Remember that all aircrafts are listed by their serial numbers and there is no specific book or link that I have found containing an "alpha listing by nose art" as it ir considered "unofficial," it changed and there were so may duplicates. In reference to Ploesti, the info here is correct in that the majority of missions to Ploesti in 1944 were from Italy by the 15th AAF using newer vatiants of B-24s. In our search, the B-24s would have been either "G"s, "H"s or "J"s while the earlier 8.1.43 would have been strictly "D"s. Scott's map in post #13 is a good lead, but the trail then goes cold. Hopefully someone will have some personal knowledge going forward.

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (25Kingman49)

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:44:47 GMT

Kirsten,
The MACR’s tell some of this story, the map shows the last sighting point of the aircraft, this is when it would have dropped out of formation and they were on their own. It appears the pilot managed to get the aircraft back over/near Trikkala, Greece when the aircraft became un-flyable and the order to bail out was given. The MACR’s give the list of crewmembers taken prisoner POW and those that evaded capture and eventually returned to duty. T/Sgt Benson statement said that he and a crewmate walked back, this must have been quite a journey on foot the full details of which are not covered in the reports.
Scott

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (trickyfancy)

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:40:23 GMT

I cant tell you how grateful I am that you found this. (i suppose i should start typing everything in to youtube huh?) Im starving for information that brings me closer to a man I adored tremendously, that spoke nothing of the war once he was home.
I recently watched the WWII in HD, documentary and was disappointed that they only spoke of the refinery bombings once briefly, and barely even mentioned B-24's. SO THANK YOU!!

Heres a question, I have the telegrams that explain he was missing, then the letter stating he was found. My father insists, (and i see no proof either) that he was not a POW, regardless of being MIA. I wonder where he was?

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (25Kingman49)

Mon, 07 May 2012 23:23:48 GMT

Eisenstein is absolutely correct; the information I provided earlier was related to the disastrous mission in 1943. Here is the corrected story via video: The Air Force Story - Volume 1 Chapter 20 - PLOESTI, MARCH-AUGUST 1944 - USAF Documentary

Thanks for catching my error Trudy

Scott

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (Eisenstein)

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:19:06 GMT

I think 25kingman49 is referencing the the Ploesti raids of 1943 based out of North Africa (altho the MACR referenced is for the 1944 raid), whereas trickyfancy/Kristen is referring to the August 1944 Ploesti raids by the 15th AF which was stationed in Italy at that time. The Petersen log also references the invasion of France which was a little earlier in Aug 1944. The 301st Bg of the 15th AF lists a mission to Ploesti on August 18th, 1944, as their last Ploesti mission.

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (25Kingman49)

Mon, 07 May 2012 21:48:43 GMT

Kirsten,

15^th Air force http://www.2ndbombgroup.org/15thAirForce.htm showing which groups were flying B-24’s

Scott

Re:454th. 737th, B-24 "Yakamaw" (RSwank)

Mon, 07 May 2012 21:18:43 GMT

Kirsten, For the nose art, you need only "consider" those B-24s that were in the 15th AF, which narrows down the list quite a bit. No guarantees. :-)