July 9th, 1944. (part 2/3)
- Bojanic Milos
- Jul 14, 2020
- 1 min read
Another plane lost on this day was a B-24 from the 449 Bomb Group, No. 42-78341. While over the target of Ploesti, the aircraft was hit by flak, which incapacitated two engines and flight controls. Without enough power, the Liberator started to lose speed and altitude and was unable to keep up with the formation. When they reached the vicinity of Užice in western Serbia, the crew had to bail out.
Clyde Driggers
Donald Rice
Wallace Brubeck
Allen Carrico
Wilburn Henley
Robert Spence
Kenneth Owens
John Chambers
Virgil Johnson
Upon reaching the ground, every airman was met by a local civilian, who brought them to a Chetnik officer. They saw many German and Bulgarian soldiers in the area.
The crew stayed on farms on Zlatibor mountain, until August 4th, when they left for Pranjani. On August 10, they were evacuated in the first and largest evacuation of the Halyard mission.
Photo:
Airmen with local villagers and the Chetnik commander of Sljivovica village Đorđe Bojić (in the center, with a cap). Top row, left to right; Donald Rice, Virgil Johnson, Wallace Brubeck, Robert Spence. Middle row, Wilburn Henley (obscured), Clyde Driggers, John Chambers.
My Uncle, Lt. Allen Carrico, bombardier of Inhoomin Critter was with that plane. He influenced me into following him with a U.S . Air Force career. I remember him telling me of his experiences after being shot down and Chetniks helping him and his crew return to Italy. Have posted lots of pictures of that time on my Facebook page : 718th Bomb Squadron. Thanks for all you do and your people did for him. I have a small piece of the parachute of his bailout.