43-38823

media-13437.jpeg UPL 13437 43-38823 JD-H, 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. On the 26 February 1945 mission to Berlin, the crew was reported missing on MACR 12760. Their aircraft had a run-away prop and lost oxygen at 32,000 ft, possibly due to flak. They made a wheels-up forced landing in Rawa Ruska, Poland. The crew were met by Russians (allies at that time) and taken to Lvov, Poland for two weeks until "rescued" by a U.S. Salvage crew in a stripped-down B-17, who flew them to Poltve [Poltava?], Russia. ATC returned them to Grafton Underwood via Tehran, Iran, Athens, Greece, Cairo, Eqypt, Tunisia, Naples, Italy and Brighton, England.

384thbombgroup.com

Object Number - UPL 13437 - 43-38823 JD-H, 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. On the 26 February 1945 mission to Berlin, the crew was reported missing on MACR 12760. Their...

Delivered Lincoln 26/9/44; Grenier 7/10/44; Assigned 545th Bomb Squadron/384th Bomb Group [JD-H] Station 106, Grafton Underwood on 23 October 1944; Missing in Action on a mission to Berlin, 26 February 1945 with Jack Barnett, Robert McCord Jones, John Frederick Foreman Jr., James Jarvis Preble, John F. Cunningham, Donald Ervin Hilliard, Edwin Lamar Holmes, Mario Joseph Casagrande, Ralph B. Hughes (9 Returned to Duty); flak, crashed in Poland; Missing Air Crew Report 12760.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-770549
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot, Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35871344
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36856511
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-777318
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier; Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37519899
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Sergeant George Mondale, Lieutenant Ernest Demaray, Sergeant John McCallum and Lieutenant Roger Soth of the 452nd Bomb Group with Russian personnel. Image via William C Gaither. Letter from Gaither enclosed with print: ‘These photographers were taken at Poltava, Russia on June 22 1944. On June 21st my group, the 452d and others flew from England to Poltava en route hitting oil refinery at Rhurland, Germany. That night after landing German dive bombers bombed the field destroying ninety or more B-17 airc
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Eastern Command Headquarters (ESCOM)

Missions

  • Date: 26 February 1945
  • Date: 25 February 1945
  • Date: 23 February 1945
  • Date: 21 February 1945
  • Date: 15 February 1945

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 26 February 1945 On the 26 February 1945 mission to Berlin, the crew was reported missing on MACR 12760. Their aircraft had a run-away prop and lost oxygen at 32,000 ft, possibly due to flak. They made a wheels-up forced landing in Rawa Ruska, Poland. The crew were met by Russians (allies at that time) and taken to Lvov, Poland for two weeks until "rescued" by a U.S. Salvage crew in a stripped-down B-17, who flew them to Poltve [Poltava?], Russia. ATC returned them to Grafton Underwood via Tehran, Iran, Athens, Greece, Cairo, Eqypt, Tunisia, Naples, Italy and Brighton, England.

Revisions

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Contributorbombercommand
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Sources

384thbombgroup.com

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384thbombgroup.com

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Contributorbombercommand
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384thbombgroup.com

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384thbombgroup.com

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 12760 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

43-38823: Gallery (2 items)