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

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

384th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

545th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Jack Barnett

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

Mario J Casagrande

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 35871344
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: waist gunner

John F Cunningham

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

John Frederick Foreman

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

Donald Ervin Hilliard

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 37519899
Highest Rank: Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Grafton Underwood

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Grafton Undermud

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

Poltava

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Eastern Command Headquarters (ESCOM)

Missions

849

Date: 26 February 1945

847

Date: 25 February 1945

843

Date: 23 February 1945

839

Date: 21 February 1945

832

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.

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.