Bomber found in Croatian Roman Village **UPDATED!!** 9/12/06
Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:02 pm
Ok, I know I dont have the pictures yet, but I was contacted yesterday about a possbile bomber that was found in Croatia from someone in the Historical Restoration department that was digging in an old Roman village and they came across a bunch of possible USAAF bomber parts that crashed there in WWII.
I of course am at work and forgot to send them to myself here, so I wanted to just let everyone know if you can help me id these parts?
I will be sending the photos here in 3-4 hours on this posting. I was also told that the Croatian invidiual who contacted me, spoke with several villagers ( no not the dead roman ones ) and they remember a bomber being chased by fighters and one being shot down. They also remember that 3 of the crew members survived and they were sent with german and french freedom fighters and made it all the way back to England.
More to come soon!!!
I of course am at work and forgot to send them to myself here, so I wanted to just let everyone know if you can help me id these parts?
I will be sending the photos here in 3-4 hours on this posting. I was also told that the Croatian invidiual who contacted me, spoke with several villagers ( no not the dead roman ones ) and they remember a bomber being chased by fighters and one being shot down. They also remember that 3 of the crew members survived and they were sent with german and french freedom fighters and made it all the way back to England.
More to come soon!!!
Last edited by Paul Krumrei on Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:08 am, edited 2 times in total.
Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:47 pm
naughty naughty....... wixing while on the clock at work!!! 
Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:26 am
I'm guessing it could be a B-24 Liberator of the USAAF..
Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:32 pm
no pics still? 
looking forwad to you posting them! 
looking forwad to you posting them!
Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:52 pm
Here is the first picture that I received of a part.
Hello,
my name is Luka Bekic, I am an archaeologist at Croatian restauration institute in Croatia.
Excavating a roman villa, we have accidentaly found an airplane crash site nearby, in a remote location near village Krvavici, Pula, Istra, Croatia. We recovered more than 3000 various parts of airplane and equipment. Looking at parts we think it could be an american heavy bomber, either B17 or B24. Two oldest willagers remember the plane falling, they say in end of 1944. They also think there were survivors, as partisans and germans fought for them. We could not find any more historical data in our country about that crash, and we would like to investigate the story further.
I can send You, or anybody else, the pictures of the parts. Maybe You or someone you know might help us to identify the plane, if not its number, than at least its model.
Last edited by Paul Krumrei on Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:15 pm
I suspect the G-6 was used on the B-17, but might have been used on other engines as well besides the R-1820.
http://www.381st.org/histories/448th_september44.html
"The Electric Shop completed with the following work, cleaned, repaired, checked and tested: 76 starter assemblies, type G-6;"
http://www.381st.org/histories/448th_september44.html
Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:09 am
Help make history. WIX is being called upon to help in finding this information!
WIX and Members will be credited with finding out info on this airplane!
Here is the pictures just sent over from the DIG!
http://www.warbird-central.com/croatia/
A silver B24 with blue markings crashed east of Pula (then Italy and Yugoslavia, now Croatia). Allegedly, plane was hit by flak near Pula flying from mission in north Italy, at end of '44. Some or all of the crew bailed out. Some were taken prisoners by Wermacht, other saved by partisan troops. Crashsite was occupied by Wermacht for 3 days, and it is not known if they found any dead and burried them. This story is told by two oldest villagers who were kids when it happened, and it is not confirmed.
If anbody can identify the plane by pictures or knows anything about crashes of B24 in mainland Istria, please contact me.
WIX and Members will be credited with finding out info on this airplane!
Here is the pictures just sent over from the DIG!
http://www.warbird-central.com/croatia/
A silver B24 with blue markings crashed east of Pula (then Italy and Yugoslavia, now Croatia). Allegedly, plane was hit by flak near Pula flying from mission in north Italy, at end of '44. Some or all of the crew bailed out. Some were taken prisoners by Wermacht, other saved by partisan troops. Crashsite was occupied by Wermacht for 3 days, and it is not known if they found any dead and burried them. This story is told by two oldest villagers who were kids when it happened, and it is not confirmed.
If anbody can identify the plane by pictures or knows anything about crashes of B24 in mainland Istria, please contact me.
Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:32 pm
Paul,
Those are B-24 parts shown in the pictures. Hope this helps!
Trevor
Those are B-24 parts shown in the pictures. Hope this helps!
Trevor
Sun Sep 10, 2006 4:21 pm
Looks it to me.............the last 3 of the big piece looks like the bomb door of a B-24. I have a section of it off the 24 here in VT.
Sun Sep 10, 2006 4:58 pm
So if its a B-24 , that would probably make it a 15th A.F. aircraft assuming it flew from Italy.
Pula has a huge harbor, so possibly shot down attacking the harbor/naval targets of Pula ?
Pula has a huge harbor, so possibly shot down attacking the harbor/naval targets of Pula ?
Sun Sep 10, 2006 5:43 pm
well this'll keep me busy all night!! 
the only 'complete' data plate is of the Oxygen Cylinder Pressure Gage which just happens to be one of THE most common parts ever.. used in pretty much every single American warbird! B-17, B-24, B-25, P-39 & P-51 to name a few!
the only 'complete' data plate is of the Oxygen Cylinder Pressure Gage which just happens to be one of THE most common parts ever.. used in pretty much every single American warbird! B-17, B-24, B-25, P-39 & P-51 to name a few!
Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:42 pm
15th AF missions for Nov/Dec '44 , no Pula listed
from
http://www.vojska.net/eng/world-war-2/united-states/airforce/15/missions/
1 November
B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escorts, bomb targets of opportunity including marshalling yards at Gussing, Ljubljana and Cakovec, and scattered communications targets in Yugoslavia.
4 November
B-17s and B-24s troop concentration at Podgorica.
5 November
42 other B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb troop concentrations at Mitrovica and Podgorica.
6 November
B-17s and B-24s bomb Maribor marshalling yard.
7 November
B-17s and B-24s attack Maribor and Alipasin Most and troop concentrations at Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Prijepolje, and Mitrovica; fighters escort all operations except the attacks on troop concentrations; 124 P-38s strafe troop concentrations at Podgorica and roads and railroads near Raska, between Visegrad-Prijepolje-Sjenica and from Sjenica to Novi Pazar.
8 November
34 B-24s bomb troop concentrations at Mitrovica, Prijepolje, and Sjenica. Heavy cloud over the targets forces 70+ others to abort.
15 November
B-17s and B-24s attack troop concentration at Novi Pazar; fighters escort the Novi Pazar raid.
16 November
B-17s and B-24s attack troop concentrations at Visegrad; 26 other P-38s strafe transport targets on roads between Sarajevo and Novi Pazar.
17 November
630+ B-17s and B-24s attack targets in Germany, Austria, Hungary and marshalling yards at Maribor, plus several scattered targets of opportunity.
18 November
B-17s and B-24s bomb troop concentrations at Visegrad; 12 P-38s bomb the troop concentrations at Visegrad.
19 November
B-24s and B-17s bomb Maribor marshalling yards; 19 P-38s dive-bomb troop concentrations at Prijepolje and Novi Pazar.
20 November
92 B-24s attack the Sarajevo marshalling yard, and railroad bridges at Doboj, Zenica, and Fojnica and 11 P-38s divebomb a marshalling yard at Brod.
21 November
25 B-24s bomb troop concentrations, railroad, and highways at Novi Pazar and Cacak. 155 P-38s dive-bomb communications lines in S Yugoslavia, destroying several vehicles, blasting roads at Vucitrn, Rogatica, Tvrdosevo, and Duga Poljana, hitting bridges at Vrbasici, and Kukavica and causing a landslide at Pavlica; 87 P-51s strafe communications over wide areas of S Yugoslavia; other fighters fly reconnaissance missions.
23 November
81 B-24s attack road and railroad bridges at or near Zenica, Brod, and Doboj; 30 P-38s bomb the Doboj marshalling yard, 13 hit Doboj road and rail bridge, and 4 attack, but miss, a bridge at Maglaj; 13 B-24s and B-17s drop supplies at points in Yugoslavia.
3 December
14 B-17s and B-24s drop supplies in Yugoslavia.
6 December
B-17s and B-24s attack marshalling yards at Maribor; P-51s and P-38s escort the bombers, cover Royal Air Force (RAF) supply missions to Yugoslavia.
5 January
1 B-24 bombs Zagreb railroad sidings; 69 others abort due to total cloud cover over the target; 38 P-51s fly cover over the target area; 33 P-38s bomb the N railroad bridge at Doboj; other operations are limited to reconnaissance, supply drops, and escort.
from
http://www.vojska.net/eng/world-war-2/united-states/airforce/15/missions/
1 November
B-17s and B-24s, with fighter escorts, bomb targets of opportunity including marshalling yards at Gussing, Ljubljana and Cakovec, and scattered communications targets in Yugoslavia.
4 November
B-17s and B-24s troop concentration at Podgorica.
5 November
42 other B-24s, with fighter escort, bomb troop concentrations at Mitrovica and Podgorica.
6 November
B-17s and B-24s bomb Maribor marshalling yard.
7 November
B-17s and B-24s attack Maribor and Alipasin Most and troop concentrations at Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Prijepolje, and Mitrovica; fighters escort all operations except the attacks on troop concentrations; 124 P-38s strafe troop concentrations at Podgorica and roads and railroads near Raska, between Visegrad-Prijepolje-Sjenica and from Sjenica to Novi Pazar.
8 November
34 B-24s bomb troop concentrations at Mitrovica, Prijepolje, and Sjenica. Heavy cloud over the targets forces 70+ others to abort.
15 November
B-17s and B-24s attack troop concentration at Novi Pazar; fighters escort the Novi Pazar raid.
16 November
B-17s and B-24s attack troop concentrations at Visegrad; 26 other P-38s strafe transport targets on roads between Sarajevo and Novi Pazar.
17 November
630+ B-17s and B-24s attack targets in Germany, Austria, Hungary and marshalling yards at Maribor, plus several scattered targets of opportunity.
18 November
B-17s and B-24s bomb troop concentrations at Visegrad; 12 P-38s bomb the troop concentrations at Visegrad.
19 November
B-24s and B-17s bomb Maribor marshalling yards; 19 P-38s dive-bomb troop concentrations at Prijepolje and Novi Pazar.
20 November
92 B-24s attack the Sarajevo marshalling yard, and railroad bridges at Doboj, Zenica, and Fojnica and 11 P-38s divebomb a marshalling yard at Brod.
21 November
25 B-24s bomb troop concentrations, railroad, and highways at Novi Pazar and Cacak. 155 P-38s dive-bomb communications lines in S Yugoslavia, destroying several vehicles, blasting roads at Vucitrn, Rogatica, Tvrdosevo, and Duga Poljana, hitting bridges at Vrbasici, and Kukavica and causing a landslide at Pavlica; 87 P-51s strafe communications over wide areas of S Yugoslavia; other fighters fly reconnaissance missions.
23 November
81 B-24s attack road and railroad bridges at or near Zenica, Brod, and Doboj; 30 P-38s bomb the Doboj marshalling yard, 13 hit Doboj road and rail bridge, and 4 attack, but miss, a bridge at Maglaj; 13 B-24s and B-17s drop supplies at points in Yugoslavia.
3 December
14 B-17s and B-24s drop supplies in Yugoslavia.
6 December
B-17s and B-24s attack marshalling yards at Maribor; P-51s and P-38s escort the bombers, cover Royal Air Force (RAF) supply missions to Yugoslavia.
5 January
1 B-24 bombs Zagreb railroad sidings; 69 others abort due to total cloud cover over the target; 38 P-51s fly cover over the target area; 33 P-38s bomb the N railroad bridge at Doboj; other operations are limited to reconnaissance, supply drops, and escort.
Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:32 pm
more Updated information for you all! Thanks for the replies!
Right now it is known:
A silver (alluminum) B24 with blue markings (probably US star) crashed northeast of Pula, near village Krvavici, Marcana (then Italy and Yugoslavia, now Croatia). Map is attached. Loc. 5415244 / 4982242 approx., I can't find a file from GPS for proper loc. right now.
Allegedly plane was hit by flak near Pula flying from mission in north Italy, at end of '44. Some of the crew, about 5 of them, bailed out over village Filipana, and their wherabouts is not known. Two parachuted near crashsite itself, one was imediately taken prisoner by Wermacht, other was saved by partisans. Crashsite was occupied by Wermacht for 3 days, and it is not known if they found any dead and burried them.
This story is told to us by two oldest villagers - eyewitness, who were small kids when it happened (5-12 years), and it is not confirmed by other relevant source. The last living partisan from this unit died two years ago, so I can not ask him. Willagers told me, since end WW2 none ever asked them anything about the crash. There is no local archive where I could look for data. I did not check newspapers, maybe this could be usefull, if I find them.
Thanks for help, If you find out something more please let me know. I will also keep you posted if I get any other feedback from emails I have sent allover the net.
Best regards,
sincerely,
Luka Bekic, archaeologist
Croatian restauration Institute
Cvijete Zuzoric 43
HR-10000 Zagreb
Croatia
rovinj1@yahoo.com
Right now it is known:
A silver (alluminum) B24 with blue markings (probably US star) crashed northeast of Pula, near village Krvavici, Marcana (then Italy and Yugoslavia, now Croatia). Map is attached. Loc. 5415244 / 4982242 approx., I can't find a file from GPS for proper loc. right now.
Allegedly plane was hit by flak near Pula flying from mission in north Italy, at end of '44. Some of the crew, about 5 of them, bailed out over village Filipana, and their wherabouts is not known. Two parachuted near crashsite itself, one was imediately taken prisoner by Wermacht, other was saved by partisans. Crashsite was occupied by Wermacht for 3 days, and it is not known if they found any dead and burried them.
This story is told to us by two oldest villagers - eyewitness, who were small kids when it happened (5-12 years), and it is not confirmed by other relevant source. The last living partisan from this unit died two years ago, so I can not ask him. Willagers told me, since end WW2 none ever asked them anything about the crash. There is no local archive where I could look for data. I did not check newspapers, maybe this could be usefull, if I find them.
Thanks for help, If you find out something more please let me know. I will also keep you posted if I get any other feedback from emails I have sent allover the net.
Best regards,
sincerely,
Luka Bekic, archaeologist
Croatian restauration Institute
Cvijete Zuzoric 43
HR-10000 Zagreb
Croatia
rovinj1@yahoo.com
Last edited by Paul Krumrei on Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:49 pm
Paul Krumrei wrote:more Updated information for you all! Thanks for the replies!
................). Map is attached. Loc. 5415244 / 4982242 approx., .............
Not sure what those cordinates are , N.E. of Pula should be aprox.
N 44 55'48" E 13 49'48"
Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:14 pm
i hate wide assed threads where you have to scroll 3 miles east or west to read em!! interesting content in this 1 makes it worth it though!!!
interesting content in this 1 makes it worth it though!!!