Hello everyone, I’m a new guy to this forum and my name is Kris Elmer. I found the Aviation Forum while doing some research on my Grandfather Gael Elmer. He was a Tail Gunner in B-17 44-6546, and was shot down over Viena Feb 13, 1945. The post I have an intrest in is this one by Dan Johnson about a year ago:
I did some research back in the early 90s for a 301st BG tail gunner who’d been shot down February 13, 1945. He sent me a copy of his story that he’d written for his family back in 1946-47 about his wartime experience. He ‘rode it in’ from 27,000 feet in the tail the day he went down. It affected him the rest of his life…
I’d like to get in touch with Dan to see if he knows anything that I don’t know. (Private message, post here, phone, or??) My Grandpa didn’t talk to us much about his service other then how hungry he was as a POW. It is lucky for me he wrote a story telling of his experences because he passed away last June. I’d like to find more details about his crew, plane, etc.
Thanks for any help you may have!
Kris
By: wieesso - 19th February 2008 at 22:46
I would really like to know if this aircraft was ‘named’…
I couldn’t find a name in this record
http://www.301bg.com/32BS_Aircraft.cfm
46546, Name not known
Assigned 29 Oct 44. MIA Vienna 13 Feb 45. Damaged by flak, crashed near Tapolza. Merrill Barnes crew, Ward, Edelen, Bowman, Harper, Whitcombe, Olis, Thomas, Losh, Elmer. Bowman, Losh KIA, rest POW. (MACR 12366).
http://32ndbombsquadron.com/32ndair.html
By: Newforest - 19th February 2008 at 22:16
Hello Kris and welcome to the Forum.:)
Hope you understood Wieesso’s instructions, the members list is on this forum, but it would be best to send an e-mail, if it works, as Dan hasn’t been logged onto this Forum for over a month, good luck.
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th February 2008 at 22:12
Thanks for the info Wieesso, I was able to find his plane number from 2 witness accounts of the plane’s dissappearance. Using the plane number, I found it listed on that link a few days ago. I would really like to know if this aircraft was ‘named’…
I didn’t realise that I could send Dan a Private message now. When I joined this forum, I was unable to send him an e-mail or anything because nothing was listed for him… I guess there is a one week waiting period for that.
I just sent him a PM…
By: wieesso - 19th February 2008 at 21:37
Welcome Kris!
MACR:12366, February 13, 1945, 44-6546, Douglas/Long Beach B-17G-55-DL Fortress, Two killed, Eight POW, Vienna, Austria
http://32ndbombsquadron.com/32ndlost.html
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3) second page : Dan Johnson
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February 19, 2008 at 9:18 pm