Post by Tim Harrington on Dec 13, 2012 17:01:55 GMT -5
Hello. I was wondering if anyone had any information about my grandfather, Merle W. Harrington. He was the ball turret gunner on the Red 38 SN 42-51835. Is the picture on your page of the 38 the same SN/plane?
I have found this so far,,
On December 17, 1944, Tech. Sergeant Fort perished with the crew of B-24J #38 "Red 38" (42-51835).
Bomber #38 was lost to fighter attack with the crew of 1Lt Roger A. Martin on a mission to Odertal, Germany (present day Zdzieszowice, Poland), on December 17, 1944 (MACR #10492). Attacked by an ME-109 piloted by Lt. Kraft from III/JG 300 at about 1205 hrs., bomber #38 crashed near the crossroads leading to Liebau (present day Libinia) and Wenzeldorf (present day Václavov), Czechoslovakia. None of the 11 crew members were able to bail out and all perished within the bomber. Lt. Kraft bailed out after his fighter was hit by one of the waist gunners (Sebelski or Fort). The ME-109 crashed in a garden in Libinia and Lt. Kraft landed uninjured.
The crew was buried in a local cemetery. After the war, the bodies were exhumed and sent to the States or to the US cemetery in Saint-Avold, France, depending on the wishes of the families.
Crew of #38:
1LT Roger A. Martin, Pilot
2LT George O. Boomer Jr., Copilot
2LT Bernard Hirsch, Navigator
2LT Robert G. Sofio, Bombardier
T/SGT Clarence A. Sebelski, Engineer &
Waist Gunner
T/SGT Griffeth H. Fort, Radio Operator &
Waist Gunner
S/SGT Albert R. White, Nose Gunner
S/SGT Bill M. Madsen, Top Turret Gunner
S/SGT Merle W. Harrington, Ball Turret Gunner
S/SGT Lonnie V. Dunham Jr., Tail Gunner
(not pictured)
SGT Arlo M. Colbeck, Photographer
(not pictured)
Thank you for any information.
I have found this so far,,
On December 17, 1944, Tech. Sergeant Fort perished with the crew of B-24J #38 "Red 38" (42-51835).
Bomber #38 was lost to fighter attack with the crew of 1Lt Roger A. Martin on a mission to Odertal, Germany (present day Zdzieszowice, Poland), on December 17, 1944 (MACR #10492). Attacked by an ME-109 piloted by Lt. Kraft from III/JG 300 at about 1205 hrs., bomber #38 crashed near the crossroads leading to Liebau (present day Libinia) and Wenzeldorf (present day Václavov), Czechoslovakia. None of the 11 crew members were able to bail out and all perished within the bomber. Lt. Kraft bailed out after his fighter was hit by one of the waist gunners (Sebelski or Fort). The ME-109 crashed in a garden in Libinia and Lt. Kraft landed uninjured.
The crew was buried in a local cemetery. After the war, the bodies were exhumed and sent to the States or to the US cemetery in Saint-Avold, France, depending on the wishes of the families.
Crew of #38:
1LT Roger A. Martin, Pilot
2LT George O. Boomer Jr., Copilot
2LT Bernard Hirsch, Navigator
2LT Robert G. Sofio, Bombardier
T/SGT Clarence A. Sebelski, Engineer &
Waist Gunner
T/SGT Griffeth H. Fort, Radio Operator &
Waist Gunner
S/SGT Albert R. White, Nose Gunner
S/SGT Bill M. Madsen, Top Turret Gunner
S/SGT Merle W. Harrington, Ball Turret Gunner
S/SGT Lonnie V. Dunham Jr., Tail Gunner
(not pictured)
SGT Arlo M. Colbeck, Photographer
(not pictured)
Thank you for any information.