Posted By Terry Harris on January 02, 2007 at 16:42:45:
In Reply to: Re: 561 Squadron 388th BG - March 6 1944 - Berlin posted by GEORGE D. KASPARIAN on January 02, 2007 at 12:08:35:
: : 561 Squadron of the 388th Bombardment Group flew a mission to Berlin March 6, 1944. I am interested in those in formation Group A. Shack Rabbits (42-38177), with Christiani piloting, was shot down on the trip home crashing close to the German-Dutch border near Twist Germany. Other aircraft in her formation were:
: : Red X Darling / Miss Fortune (42-37849), pilot: Filler
: : Winged Fury (42-31138), pilot: Lindahl
: : Heaven Can Wait (42-31745), pilot: Oswald
: : Screamin' Red Ass (42-30340, pilot: Amann
: : Ramp Tramp (42-39861), pilot: Hilton
: : The Princess Pat (42-30829), pilot: Moreland
: : Miss Lace (42-39842), pilot: Tobias
: : Snafu (42-31393), pilot: Sullivan L
: : Miss Fortune (42-31039), pilot: Fisk
: : Jimmy Lee (42-37819), pilot: Malmberg
: : Millie K (42-37878), pilot: Kelly P
: : Gremlin Gus II / Olin 69'ers (42-30595), pilot: Thompson R
: : Virginia Lee (42-3548), pilot: Dopko
: : Pride of the Yanks (42-32004), pilot: Barrett
: : I have the MACR for Shack Rabbits crash. Not much is in it. I am hoping someone from this formation might have information on where Shack Rabbits was attacked and what happened during the attack.
: : Thank you
: Hi Ellis,
: There might be post-mission interrogation reports for the 561st Squadron in the one of the mission folders for the 388th BG for March 6, 1944. The reports would be in mission folders which are stored in the National Archives. You should be able to obtain copies of the post-mission interrogation reports for a fee. You can request copies by writing to the following address: NATIONAL ARCHIVES AT COLLEGE PARK, 8601 ADELPHI ROAD, COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740-6001. Obtaining copies of the reports might take as long as 8-10 weeks. GEORGE KASPARIAN
If you are willing to spend the money, you can likely buy a copy of the group's mission folder for the day. This should include interrogation forms (crew debriefing forms), gunner claim forms, field order, various engineering records (i.e. battle damage, fuel consumption), aircraft tabulation sheets, etc.
I have purchased a copy of the 388th's April 11, 1944 folder. Being able to read each crew's interrogation form has shed light on my research that simple MACRs can't. Trust me, the MACR may get mechanical stuff right, but it isn't always the final word on accurately reporting the circumstances of a crew's loss in combat.