37 squadron

hi

thanks for that very gratefull

Referring to the USAAF serial number website, produces the following:-
44398 to RAF as Liberator B.VI KK317. Struck Off Charge (scrapped) Mar 14, 1946.
So it (and hopefully its crew) survived the war.
I think it also served with 70 Squadron, although this was obviously a 37 Sqdn production…
37 Squadron started operating Liberators from October 1944. From its base at Tortorella in Italy the squadron attacked targets in Italy, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Albania, as well as dropping supplies to the Yugoslav partisans. The squadron also took part in Allied operations to mine the Danube, blocking it to Axis shipping.
On 2 October 1945 the Squadron moved to Palestine but returned to Egypt in December where it was disbanded on 31 March 1946.
So, sometime between October 1944 and March 1936 would likely be the date for this cigarette box to have been made.
I would suggest you join the RAF Liberator website to see if anyone else can help with more on the probable crew for KK317.
One reference to KK317 on there is as follows:
Guestbook Entry No. 310
Author. Ian Quinn
Email Address. [email]quinns@hkstar.com[/email]
Homepage.
Message. F/L John BUMSTEAD 37 SQ B-24 Pilot Dec 1944 onwards. John passed away in New Zealand on Sept 24th after retirement from extensive airline flying post war. He was given a good send off at the Motecillo Veteran’s Home in Dunedin with the local RSA paying tribute. His son, a very good friend of mine and also a pilot, has John’s immaculate logbooks with strike photos attached.John flew most of his ops in KK317. He would be most interested to hear from any suriving crew members that may remember John. My email is [email]quinns@hkstar.com[/email] Many thanks Ian Quinn Hong Kong
I hope that helps!