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Re: Searching for accident report of Old Faithful
Elliot Schneider Nov 26, 2020 11:54 AM (in response to Moi Watson)1 person found this helpfulMoi,
Here is some information:
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/3613
T/Sgt Leroy Pikelis (engineer)
Lt Harry J Cornell (copilot)
Lt James C Meade (navigator)
M L Lawrence (bombardier)
T/Sgt L J Fecteau (radio)
T/Sgt Chester S Voorhis (ball turret gunner) was born on nov 18th, 1920 - passed away on dec 4th, 1961
Lt Joseph "Joe" Winters Kane (pilot) was born on june 1st, 1920 - passed away on nov 29th, 2011
COMMENTS 1
- 2 weeks before this pic was taken (29th july 1943, mission to Kiel) Joe Kane's crew was attacked by Fw190s, when flying aboard 42-29690 "Old Faithful". Gene Foster (Left Waist Gunner) was KIA, J J Vachout (Tail Gunner) MIA and Charles B Lozenski (Right Waist Gunner) badly wounded. Most of the crew were decorated (Kane receiving the Silver Star) from "John Burn 1 0 5" by William
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Re: Searching for accident report of Old Faithful
Moi Watson Nov 27, 2020 9:35 AM (in response to Elliot Schneider)Thank you very much for taking the time to respond and for the links, and the extra information on the pilot and ball turret gunner.
I've used some of this, information from The Mighty Eighth War Diary (Roger Freeman) and the 365th Bomb Squadron War Diary to add more detail but was curious to know if there was a formal Accident Report since there was no MACR for SSgt Vachout who was listed MIA then KIA, although there is no record of a body being found. I am assuming this change in status was due to some formal investigation of the incident and that is what I am hoping to find.
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Re: Searching for accident report of Old Faithful
Elliot Schneider Nov 27, 2020 2:57 PM (in response to Moi Watson)1 person found this helpfulMoi,
Here is some additional information below, I did not find any type of report listed for this aircraft or any additional information for July 29th 1943. The unit itself may have conducted an investigation might want to try contacting the 8th AF association if they have one available or looking for records at the Air Force archives.
Document Detail for IRISNUM= 00081795 IRISNUM 00081795 OLDACC 7267-19T CLASS UNCLASSIFIED BEG_DATE 11-01-1942 MAIN GROUP/0305/BOMBARDMENT (HEAVY) PUB_DATE END_DATE 12-31-1943 CALL GP-305-HI REEL 0000001327 ACCS_DATE MAJCOM RECTYPE HISTORY REL_DATE 11-07-1984 TITLE TITLE_XT ACCNOTES IRISREF B0214 FRAME 910 FRAMELST 943 INDEXID 35 NUMPAGES 33 ABSTRACT GROUP'S FIRST MISSION WAS ONE OF DIVERSION, NO BOMBS DROPPED, NO ENEMY OPPOSITION. COMMANDING OFFICER OF GROUP AT THAT TIME WAS COL C. E. LEMAY. FIRST OFFENSIVE MISSION, 23 NOV 42 AGAINST LORIENT, FRANCE. FIRST ENEMY AIR OPPOSITION MET BY GROUP WAS IN MISSION OF 6 DEC 42. NARRATIVE RELATES THAT IN MAY 43, GERMANS BEGAN USING AERIAL BOMBS AGAINST B-17 FORMATIONS. USE OF AERIAL ROCKETS AGAINST B-17 FORMATIONS FOR FIRST TIME, RELATED IN ACCOUNT OF GROUP'S MISSION AGAINST SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY BALL BEARING WORKS, 17 AUG 43. 5 NOV 43, FIRST PATH FINDER FORCE MISSION FOR GROUP. 7 OCT 43 SAW GROUP'S FIRST PROPAGANDA "LEAFLET MISSION." DNOTES ADMIN NONE AUTHOR TITLE_AE SUBJECT QC_DATE QC_COMMENTS LAST_UPD_DATE For information on obtaining a copy of the document described above, please click here Record provided by: Name: John J Vachout Rank: Staff Sergeant Residence Place: Illinois Type of Medal: Air Medal, Purple Heart Service Number: 36352591 Military Unit: 365th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group, Heavy Military Branch: U.S. Army Air Forces War: World War II Death Date: 30 Jul 1944 Cemetery Section: Tablets of the Missing Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery Burial Place: Netherlands Gene Foster information:
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Re: Searching for accident report of Old Faithful
Moi Watson Nov 28, 2020 3:12 AM (in response to Elliot Schneider)Thank you again. Your information on SSgt Vachout answers that part of my query.
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Re: Searching for accident report of Old Faithful
Shannon KernerDec 1, 2020 10:50 AM (in response to Moi Watson)
Dear Ms. Watson,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
World War II Army Air Force and Air Force accident reports up to 1955 are in the custody of the Air Force Historical Research Agency, 600 Chennault Circle, Building 1405, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL 36112-6424.
We searched the National Archives Catalog and located 21 file units & 3 items in various record groups that relate to the 365th Bomb Squadron. A few of these file units have been digitized. For access to the non-digitized records, please contact the reference unit listed in the Catalog description.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from various NARA reference units. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.
We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!
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Re: Searching for accident report of Old Faithful
Moi Watson Dec 2, 2020 3:50 PM (in response to Shannon Kerner)Hello Shannon
Thank you very much for taking the trouble to post and many thanks for the information and link.
I am based in the UK which is adding a layer of difficulty to my search not helped by COVID restrictions but your post has been most helpful.
Kind regarads
Moi Watson
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