Re: 493rd BG #43-38224 10 January1945

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Comments:: : : Hello to all ! : : : I am looking for information on the crew and on the fate of this aircraft # 43-38224 493rd BG 863rd BS G6-E during mission on Köln the 10 January 1945 : : : It seems that the crew abandoned it over Belgium : : : Many thanks in advance : : : Phil : : Hello Phil, : : The only info found in the history book of the 493rd was aircraft 43-38224 SAL 18th Jan 45. : : This may help a little. : : Bill : Hello Phil, : I first checked Bits and Pieces and it shows that 43-38224 initially flew with the 863rd BS and then with the 861st BS – don’t know what date the change in squadron was made. B&P also confirms that 224 “Failed to Return/Landed on Continent”, but does not identify a location. B&P did not identify the pilot. So, this pretty much confirms everything you already know. : I then checked my copy of microfilmed documents from the 493rd BG. The Mission Report for January 10, 1945 does not specifically mention 224. However, the Formation Diagram did identify the pilot’s last name – Kelly. With this Mission Report, there were three Formation Diagrams (Planned, After Assembly, and Over Target) and 224 showed on each. I did not find any other documents for the month of January or February 1945 that mention 224 or its failure to return from the January 10 mission. The December 1944 Officer Roster shows only one Kelly and that was 1st LT Kenneth Kelly who was assigned to the 861st BS. Since LT Kelly first shows on the December 1944 Officer Roster, I checked through the Special Orders (a daily report of personnel activity) and found that LT Kelly and his crew reported on December 11, 1944 and were assigned to the 861st BS. The crew included: : 1st LT Kenneth Kelly 0687308 (pilot) : F/O John P Wiley T-131216 (navigator) : 1st LT George O Gerrick 0676940 (copilot) : Tech Sgt Joseph R Stanforth 15195089 (radio operator/gunner) : Staff Sgt Albert T Tullio 31149829 (passenger) : Sgt Arthur K LeBailly 32461439 (flight engineer/gunner) : Sgt Harry A Kolasz 39474569 (passenger) : Cpl George Novesolich 35?????? (radio operator/gunner) (my best guess on last name spelling) : On January 10, 1945, at least some of the above crew members flew with LT Kelly. : LT Kelly remained on the 493rd BG Officer Roster for January 1945 and next flew on February 6, 1945. : This is all I could find specific to 224 on the January 10 mission and LT Kelly. : Hope this information helps. : David

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