Supply drop for "Varsity" 1945

446th bomber group FB page mentioneds;

We have photo's of "Bar Fly" seconds before it was shot out of the sky by a German tank

And they know the location, but for whatever reason, they don't want to share, pity.

 

Just for your information.

44th Bomber group Roll of Honor and Casualties In this document is writen that the crash of the B-24, 42-100314, Kay-Bar, is filmed in this (probably) 44th Video.

 

They flying overhead the famous tower on thulenweg

 

Most helpful ideed, many thanks

 

Thulenweg Tower. now museum neas Korthauerhof Farm is 890 meters south of where the Hamilcar landed.

 

Wasn't this a B-17 Combat Camera team which was shot at flying low over de DZs and LZs east of the Rhine and just got back landing west of the Rhine?

 

Oeps I missed that report. Many thanks!

 

These images are very haunting for me, my Great Grandfather was a waist gunner with the 448th, and according to his mission log he flew 7 of his 23 missions in Piccadilly Lilly, including his very first on January 3, 1945 over Neunkinchen. His last flight in her was on March 10 on a run over Paderborn, exactly two weeks before she was lost…

 

My father was a Tail Gunner with the 448th. He flew 32 missions from summer of 1944 to April, 1945. I believe that he also flew on 42-50341, the Piccidilly Lily. Does your grandfather's diary or notes include information on the servicemen with whom he flew?

 

Would I be correct in assuming that if he flew on 42-50341 for 7 missions, then he must have been with the 715th Bomb Squadron?

 

Does anyone have the Loading List of the men form the 448th Bomb Group who participated in Operation Varsity? A million thanks if available or if anyone has information on where I might find that information. Sincerely, Janey W McQuality

 

(I am referring to your grandfather. Was he with the 715th Bomb Squadron?)

 

42-50341 Crew

 

Thank you for providing the MACR. I sincerely appreciate your interest and response. My puzzle is to determine if there was a "Tail Gunner" on this sortie. My suspicion/hunch/lore is that there was one. To document, I need the paperwork from the front end.

 

Sorry it took so long to reply, yes he was in the 715th, part of Replacement Crew 132. The roster I found was as follows:

Frederick J. Hahner: Pilot

John K. Elam: Co-pilot

John F. Cascio: Navigator

Robert O. Folt: Bombardier/Gunner

Harold W. Hulspeth: Gunner

Joseph A. Hutchinson: (My Great Grandpa) Gunner

Wallace D. Laufer: Gunner

Edward H. McCuen: Gunner

Bernard M. O’Leary Jr: Gunner

 

Does anyone know, or have any images of 41-28814 before or after going down? It went down over Wesel and was a part of the 446th BG. 2Lt Thomas Campbell died after his chute didn't open. The Pilot Dale Beasley went down with the aircraft. Several others bailed out and landed in different locations including in the rhine. Several other crew couldn't bail and went down with the plane. Any info would be much appreciated.

 

Sorry I am not familiar with this aircraft, but if you don't have it the MACR is available here:

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91143347?objectPage=2

Regards ...

 

Hello Mr. Unicorn.


Courtesy of and all thanks to:

https://digitalarchive.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/ImageBrowser?tx=446th Bomb Group (Bungay)&catNum=mc_376-116#mc_376-116x001#mc_376-116x050#mc_376-116x064#mc_376-116x076#mc_376-116x071#mc_376-116x068#mc_376-116x064#mc_376-116x065#mc_376-116x066#mc_376-116x067#mc_376-116x068#mc_376-116x069#mc_376-116x068#mc_376-116x067#mc_376-116x066#mc_376-116x065#mc_376-116x064#mc_376-116x063#mc_376-116x062#mc_376-116x063#mc_376-116x001#mc_376-116x003#mc_376-116x002

It is a wonderful archive containing many photos and texts.

And one book they hold in their archives (pertinent extracts of which follow below).



The reason why it could be difficult to identify a photo of the aircraft you seek; by the time of Varsity the aircrafts serial was most likely on the inside surface of the tailplane.



The supply mission:



Close up of formation graphic.



The Operation.













Close up of selected text from page 110.







Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

Thomas Edwin Campbell, Jr., Class of 1946 - The Citadel Memorial Europe

 

As far as the MACR goes, the pickings are slim.

Of the early jumpers Brown lands in the Rhine and Nanna on the west side. Both are picked up by "allied troops" - perhaps the British.

The two following jumpers, Heslin and Anderson, landed close by each other in "No Man's Land". Unfortunately Anderson didn't survive the jump. Heslin was found by an American Infantry patrol from the 30th Division. Not sure of their position - perhaps south of the American Airborne zones on the east side. A 5th jumper, Campbell, was never found and presumed dead.

It is suggested the aircraft may have turned back on itself, making an "S-turn", however, nothing is firm. Presumably the crash was discovered at some point. So not much new here, but surely it must have been looked into by others over the years ... ?

Regards ...