Missing B-26 - 11/7/44 - 69 Years ago Today

[Kyleb]

For those of you who've never heard the name Clint Castleberry, I'll provide a little background.

He grew up in the Atlanta area and was a high school football star. As a freshman at Georgia Tech n 1942, he was the first freshman All-American, and finished 3rd in the voting for the Heisman Trophy - another first. After the football season concluded, he left Georgia Tech to join the Air Force where he flew B-26's. On November 7, 1944, he was co-piloting a B-26 (one in a flight of two, as I understand it) on an early morning (night?) flight from Roberts Field in Liberia to Senegal, and both aircraft disappeared with all crew, never to be seen again.

Castleberry's #19 is the only number ever retired in Georgia Tech's football history.

So here's my question: How would one go about finding any pertinent data on Castleberry's last flight? Departure time, en-route weather, etc? I'd like to understand if there was inclement weather (ITCZ activity, for instance) or other conditions that might have factored into his disappearance.

[mike furline]

You can join Fold3 for free for a week and download the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR). http://www.fold3.com/
Do a search in the WWII section under Missing Air Crew Reports, search 9925 and then Clint Castleberry separately.

The aircraft involved were B-26G 44-67861 and 44-67866. Not sure which aircraft he was on.
44-67861, MACR-9925, Pilot -Krawesyk, Arthur D
44-67866, MACR-9925, Pilot - Deadwyler, Joseph L Jr

http://www.fold3.com/image/?ann=5486516 ... 139117347/

http://forum.armyairforces.com/tm.aspx?m=67247&mpage=1

http://www.b26.com/guestbook/2004.htm
Date:
12/5/2004
Time:
8:55 PM

My name is Scott Clemens and I am conducting research on Lt. Clint Castleberry, Jr., who was killed when his B26G, 44-67866, was lost off of the coast of Africa on November 7, 1944. I have obtained a copy of MACR 9925, which details the search for 44-67861 and 44-67866, both lost on the same date. The documentation includes orders from the 1103d AAF Base Unit Caribbean Division, ATC, which seem to detail the ferrying flights for seven B26G’s. I have not been able to find any information on where the aircraft were headed or what happened to them. I am obviously most interested in 44-67866, but the others are:

44-67859
44-67862
44-67863
44-67854
44-67853
43-34575

The MACR indicates that the two aircraft lost on 11/07/44 left five minutes apart from Roberts Field and were not flying in formation.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Scott

Scott,
The B26's you note were all destined for delivery to the Free French Air Force, and would have been delivered to Rabat in Morocco. Where the USAAF crews would go to thereafter is open to surmise. By this time both the 9th.AAF and the 1st Tactical Air Force were operating from European bases. If you have the MACR then you probably have all the information available. Unless there is an eyewitness account I cannot see any further avenues of approach.

Regards,
Trevor Allen
historian b26.com