23 June 1944

[D13-th_Mytzu]

thank you Iamandi, I will look for that book - if I cannot find it I would really apreciate your help on this.

[Victor]

You won't find much in it. It is a book written and published before 1989 and it is mostly an aviation novel, than a history book.

[D13-th_Mytzu]

Anyone knows about B17's camouflages/emblems who flew from Foggia to bomb Romania ?

[cipiamon]

Send Cantacuziono a private mesage about this one, his a master! He also helped many il2 skiners.

[cainele_franctiror]

I study every week in military archives from Pitesti so feel free to contact me on ffranctirorudupapom@yahoo.de for informations. I am working with mr Vasile Tudor for a book about Grupul 1 Vanatoare ( I am from Rosiorii de Vede and that unit was garrisoned here in first part of 1944) . In that day , 23 june 1944 , the commander of this fighter group died. It was the pilot with the highest rank who died on a romanian fighter plane ( cpt. comandor I Sandu )

[Dénes]

QUOTE

I am from Rosiorii de Vede

Can you clarify an off topic question? Is your town's name correctly Rosiorii de Vede, or Rosiori de Vede? I encountered both spelling versions...
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searc...&submit=Get+Map

Col. Dénes

[cainele_franctiror]

Is Rosiorii de Vede , but even here a lot of people use Rosiori de Vede

[Cantacuzino]

Hey Mitzy, it looks that nobody give a real help to you for that movie. :cry:
Ok, for one :beer: I will give you some tips regarding "23 june'44"
Samples from the "June, 23" victories list:
1. Cpt. Herschell Herky Green 317FS, 325FG( flyng with P-51 B Mustang nr.11) - 1 Bf-109 destroyed and 1 Fw 190 damaged.
2. Ofw.Hermann Buchner 6/SG2 ( flyng Fw-190 F8 with chevron from Zilistea) - 1 B-17 destroyed at 6000m.
3.Lt. av. Gulan Gheorghe ( flyng IAR 80 M nr.104"Getta" )- 1 B17 shot down.

I have the skins ( Il-2 FB ) for this 3 fighter planes and also skins for B-17's Fortress from 97 BG ( used in combat over Ploesti on june,23 ) . Let me know if you need them. :cheers:

[Cantacuzino]

A dramatic B-17 Crew story on 23 june'44 over Ploesti Romania


* KINGSLEY, DAVID R. (Air Mission) awarded posthumously
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 97th Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force.

Place and date: Ploesti Raid, Rumania, 23 June 1944.
Entered service at: Portland, Oreg.
Birth: Oregon.
G.O. No.: 26, 9 April 1945.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, 23 June 1944 near Ploesti, Rumania, while flying as bombardier of a B17 type aircraft. On the bomb run 2d Lt. Kingsley's aircraft was severely damaged by intense flak and forced to drop out of formation but the pilot proceeded over the target and 2d Lt. Kingsley successfully dropped his bombs, causing severe damage to vital installations.

The damaged aircraft, forced to lose altitude and to lag behind the formation, was aggressively attacked by 3 ME-109 aircraft, causing more damage to the aircraft and severely wounding the tail gunner in the upper arm. The radio operator and engineer notified 2d Lt. Kingsley that the tail gunner had been wounded and that assistance was needed to check the bleeding. 2d Lt. Kingsley made his way back to the radio room, skillfully applied first aid to the wound, and succeeded in checking the bleeding. The tail gunner's parachute harness and heavy clothes were removed and he was covered with blankets, making him as comfortable as possible.

Eight ME-109 aircraft again aggressively attacked 2d Lt. Kingsley's aircraft and the ball turret gunner was wounded by 20mm shell fragments. He went forward to the radio room to have 2d Lt. Kingsley administer first aid. A few minutes later when the pilot gave the order to prepare to bail out, 2d Lt. Kingsley immediately began to assist the wounded gunners in putting on their parachute harness. In the confusion the tail gunner's harness, believed to have been damaged, could not be located in the bundle of blankets and flying clothes which had been removed from the wounded men.

With utter disregard for his own means of escape, 2d Lt. Kingsley unhesitatingly removed his parachute harness and adjusted it to the wounded tail gunner. Due to the extensive damage caused by the accurate and concentrated 20mm fire by the enemy aircraft the pilot gave the order to bail out, as it appeared that the aircraft would disintegrate at any moment. 2d Lt. Kingsley aided the wounded men in bailing out and when last seen by the crewmembers he was standing on the bomb bay catwalk. The aircraft continued to fly on automatic pilot for a short distance, then crashed and burned. His body was later found in the wreckage. 2d Lt. Kingsley by his gallant heroic action was directly responsible for saving the life of the wounded gunner.