In February of 2006, Jim Graham , 1st Fighter Group historical researcher, was contacted by Dan Melinte of Bucharest, Romania regarding the June 10, 1944 mission to Ploesti, Romania .  Both were interested in detailed definition of the encounters on that mission and the crash site locations of those that were lost on the mission.

 

Dan had no doubt detected Jim’s interest in and resources of data acquired from the U. S. National Archives on the subject by visiting the 1st Fighter Association website.  Jim was very eager to exchange data and findings related to the subject.  Through an exchange of email from February through May, definitive crash site location information was derived for nearly all of the 1st Fighter Group losses on the Ploesti mission. 

 

Dan’s exhaustive research included information from Romanian archives, personal interviews with witnesses and correlated photos and mapping data.  He also offered details on the Romanian Air Force participants in the battle,  but those details were not the focus of Jim’s efforts to determine the details of the 1st Fighter Group casualties.  Dan has authored articles on the mission encounter in the Romanian language, and with supplemental information gained from data provided by Jim, he intends to publish his findings in the English language as well.  We look forward to his publication.

 

The following pages provide the most informative email messages and related attachments received from Dan Melinte.  Attachments to the email messages are listed at the end of the messages and are linked to the attachments for viewing.  Click on the  blue underlined items to view them.

 

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From: Dan Melinte

To: Jim Graham

Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 9:09 PM

Subject: Mission of 10 june '44 info.

 

  Hello Mr Graham,

 

 My name is Dan Melinte from Bucharest Romania.

 

I am doing some reserch for the 10 june '44 mission of 1stFG and 82FG mission (Ploesti -Romana Americana bombing).   

I understand that you were pilot in WWII in 71Sq. Maybe you can help me with some data. from US archivs regarding that mission.

 

I have also ( if you are interested )data from romanian archivs regarding the same mission.

I attached a romanian document (police archiv) with info about Lt George Johnson 71Sq, crashed near Giurgiu

(south Bucharest ).

And also a picture with the P-38 "black 32" from 71FG crashed south est of Bucharest on 10 june.  

If you can help with any small info please let me know.

 

Best regards.

 

Dan.

 

Attachments:

 

DAN-001        P-38 (black-#32)   (A 71st FS P-38  that crashed SE of Bucharest on June 10, 1944

DAN-002        Romanian police report of crash near Giurgiu

DAN-003        Romanian police report identifies 71st FS pilot George Johnson

 

 

 

From: Dan Melinte

To:  Jim Graham

Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 7:59 AM

Subject: Re: Mission of 10 june '44 info.

 

Hello Jim,

 

Thanks for quick answer to my request.

We both are looking for the truth of 10 june '44 raid and we can share our work to solve some puzzles regarding this overlooked  mission. I'v been doing reserch for several years and  found  answers for some  unknown facts about the mission. But still missing  data to finish properly the history of that day..    I wrote an article in a romanian aviation magazine (in two issues) and was the  most complete story  ever written for this mission . But because was written only in romanian and by now found more data I  decided to rewrite as a complete book ( in english)  to cover all the aspects of the mision from all sources (US,  romanian, and german  ).

And for this reason  your help will be valuable for me.

 

I will provide you some data as your request. The reports that you have  for 71st (including the MACR), 94th and 27th sq will be ery usefull for me  to solve also your questions. The romanian documents are not allways complete.     Regarding the pilots lost from 71 sq. here what I found until now:

 

1.   - Lt. George Johnson  

 

From Giurgiu police report:

Johnson P-38 crashed near the road Giurgiu - Oinac, " Mocanu" forest (near the border) Vlasca county (see attached  map).

The pilot George Johnson was found dead with his parachute .

From Giurgiu municipal archivs :

George Johnson was registred with no 281 (as been dead) in the "Registrul pentru morti" of the city and probably burried in local cemetery.

 

  2.    - Lt William Potter

 

From Rom. archiv. :

William Potter P-38 crashed place is 21 Km south est from Bucharest near the road to Oltenita ( Ilfov county). Potter was found dead and

burried in "Orasti-Stirbei" cemetery.

 

  3.  -  Lt. Willie Flack

 

 From rom archiv.:

 Willy Flack P-38 crashed 3km south of Berceni vilage (SE Bucharest) Ilfov county.    Was burried in Bucharest (unknown cemetery)

 

From the romanian 6thFG pilots (after combat reports) the following places are described as P-38 crashes (71sq)

 1.  Sgt Aurel Vladareanu - one P-38 crashed near "Cretesti " village ( Vidra).

 2.  Sgt.Pavel Coteanu - one P-38 crashed near "Frumusani" village.

 3.  Sgt. Aurel Vladareanu -one P-38 crashed near "Frunzanesti"  village (William Potter ??)

 

As for other P-38 from 1st FG posible the two P-38 found at "Puntea de Greci" village (8Km south of Gaesti) to be from this group.

( see the atached map)

 

 For 82 FG I found the following crashes places:

 

   Charles Welch P-38 crashed near "Scaieni " village  (NE Ploesti). Was burried in Scaieni local cemetery.

   Lt Thomas  Hodgson P-38 crashed 2 km south of Albesti village (est Ploesti) Was taken POW by AA gunners.

   Lt Kewin Jackson P-38  crashed near "Radila" village (10km est Ploesti) Was taken POW by AA gunners

   Lt.Charles Langenour P-38 posible crashed at "Contesti" village (40km NW Bucharest). Was burried in common

         grave with 14 unindentified romanians in "Mogosoaia" village local cemetery.( see the attached picture)

   Lt John Cannady P-38 crashed on "Piatra Olt" trains depot building near the railroad  bridge over Olt river.

 

   I will try to sent you more info but pieces by pieces (I have 2GB stored in my computer).

   Please sent me at the begin the 71 sq report and MACR for 14 pilots.

   I will keep you in touch.

 

  Best wishes ,

  Dan.

 

Attachments:

 

DAN-004        Giurgiu map with Johnson crash site

DAN-005        Bucharest area map with four 71st FS crash sites

 

============================================================================================================

 

From: Dan Melinte

To: Jim Graham

Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 2:12 AM

Subject: Re: Mission of 10 june '44 info.

 

Hi Jim,

 

Yesterday I received your envelope with MACR files. Thanks. Will help me a lot to solve the puzzle ( but will take some days to read it).

Anyway I found also your list with 14 pilots ( 1st FG) for 10 june and i saw that is missing data for Lt.Harry Noone.  

I added the missing part in your list( his P-38 Sn and Tag Nr.)

 

Also found news for crash locations for 71sq P-38.

 

The list is now updated :

   1. Berceni         - P-38 pilot dead -Willie Flack

   2. Frumusani     -P-38 pilot POW ( Geyman?)

   3. Tanganu        -P-38 pilot dead  ( Smith or Jackson)

   4. Orasti            -P-38 pilot dead -Potter William

   5. Cretesti         -P-38 pilot POW ( Hisey ?)

   6. Fundeni         -P38 pilot dead. - Baker

   7. Giurgiu-Oinac -P38 pilot dead -George Johnson

 

One of the two POW is Hisey but I am not sure who is the second ( Geyman ?)

 . 

Other founds:

The two P-38 crashed at "Puntea de Greci" south Gaesti , the pilots were both KIA.

Probably Lt Joye and Cpt Bischoff (1st FG).

The P-38 crashed at Contesti had the pilot POW. Probably the pilot is Lt Harry Noone who was taken POW by "Dambovita"

county police ("Contesti "is in Dambovita county).

One P-38 crashed near Mogosoaia village northwest Bucharest.The pilot was found dead. ( Lt Laugenour 82FG burried in Mogosoaia cemetery).

Another P-38 crash was at "Giulesti-Chitila " (NW Bucharest) near railroad. The pilot was taken POW.

Probably Lt William H Jefferson ( O-885560) or Lt. John Paul McMonegal (O-753699) who were  taken POW by "Ilfov" county police

(Chitila is in Ilfov county).

The claim for this P-38 (found also in his logbook) was romanian Bf-109 pilot( 7thFG) Sgt Marinciu Ioan.

 

I will keep you in touch with every finds ( that are interesting for you).

 

PS: Do you know a person who deal with 82FG history . I need the MACR files for the 8 pilots of 82FG.

Best wishes,

Dan.

 

 

From: Dan Melinte

To: Jim Graham

Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 8:49 PM

Subject: p-38 crash place at Tanganu village

 

Hi Jim,

 

I was again in expedition for P-38 crash places.

First stop in  Tinganu village  ( also spelled Tanganu ). Here I found a witness of the fight near his village. His name is Istrate and was 10 years old when he (and his cow), watched the fight between "twin fuselage" american planes and romanian planes. The fight was in the valley of Dambovitza river. One P-38 crashed near his village at the turning point of a small river channel (called Colentina).   The P-38 was burried in the ground. Only parts (probably rudders) from the plane was taken by local police chief  Mr. Micuta.

 

After the war end (nobody remember exactly how long ), an american comission came here and excaveted the wrekage from the ground and probably taken the remains of the pilot.

 

I attached picture with Dambovitza river valley and the place of P-38 crash near Colentina small channel.   Also a satelitte map with area.

 

Dan.

 

Attachments:

 

DAN-006        Tinganu Village

DAN-007        Satellite map of Tinganu area

DAN-008        Mr. Istrate points out crash area

DAN-009        Crash site at Tinganu

DAN-010        Dambovitza River valley

DAN-011        Colentina  River

DAN-012        Dambovitza River

DAN-013        Railroad to Oltenita

DAN-014        Tinganu (Tanganu) area map

DAN-015        Tanganu Moara village

 

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From: Dan Melinte

To: Jim Graham

Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 9:17 PM

Subject: Re: p-38 crash place at Tanganu village

 

Jim,

 

The grid letter near the crash place is " V " .

I also attached a drawing map with the crash place and more pictures with the area.

The crash place is more closer to Tanganul Moara (a small village).

 

Dan.

Jim Graham > wrote:

 

Hi Dan--

 

Can you tell me which grid letter the crash site is near?  (In the attached photo of the area?)

 

Thx,

Jim

 

 

From: Dan Melinte

To: Jim Graham

Sent: Monday, April 24, 2006 2:13 PM

Subject: Re: Joseph Jackson (71st FS)


Hi Jim,

 

I  have news for you. Yesterday I made aeriall pictures (using an RC model glider with digital camera) for Tanganu crash place.  A guy from Tanganu Moara told me that  5 years ago people from the village dig it on both sides of the small river to collect sand (used in construction) and they found some parts from the plane.

 

As for the twin sister of Jackson I wish her long life. If it's posible to ask her a picture with his brother.    I attached the pictures. (one is marked with red the crash place)

 Cheers,

 Dan.


Jim Graham > wrote:

Hi Dan--

 

I have located the twin sister of Joseph Jackson (71st FS) who went down near Tanganu Moara.  She is 84 years old and lives in a retirement home in my city of Seattle .  I had found a memorial page on the WWII Memorial website that she had submitted and I have been searching telephone directories.  Yesterday I made contact with her and I am going to give her copies of the email photos you have sent me about the crash site.  …………….

 

 

Attachments:  (To foregoing April 24 message)

 

DAN-016        RC glider aerial view #1 of Tanganu crash site

DAN-017        RC glider aerial view #2 of Tanganu crash site

DAN-018        RC glider aerial view #3of Tanganu crash site

DAN-019        RC glider aerial view #4 of Tanganu crash site

DAN-020        RC glider aerial view #5 of Tanganu crash site

DAN-021        RC glider aerial view #6 of Tanganu crash site

DAN-022        RC glider aerial view #7 of Tanganu crash site

DAN-023        Ground level view of  Tanganu crash site

DAN-024        View #1 (above) with crash site marked in red

 

 

From: Dan Melinte

To: Jim Graham

Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2006 2:47 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: More pictures

 

Hi Jim,

 

I am glad that Florence was happy to receive info about Joe crash site.

And also thanks for the nice pictures with Joe that she gave it to share with me.

 

Yesterday I visited Fundeni-Frunzanesti village. I found someone who show me the place of crash of one P-38. The plane crashed in a (peaches) garden. Today  on the spot is a white house. The information about the pilot fate is  unclear. The guy told me a story that pilot jumped with parachute and was taken POW by police chief  away from angry people of near houses damaged by P-38 razmoot. If  is true it means that pilot could be Lt. Janci.

 

He  told me that on the other side of road  two planes crashed but he doesn't know so much about the type and pilots. One of them could be a IAR 81C (as found in romanian documents) and the other could be a P-38 ( Baker ?)

 

I attached pictures with one of the P-38 crash place at Fundeni -Frunzanesti.

 

Cheers ,

Dan.

Jim Graham > wrote:

 

Hi Dan--

 

I visited Jackson's twin sister, Florence, yesterday and gave her copies of your pictures of the crash site and a few of our email messages.  She was very happy to receive the information and she gave me two photos of Joe taken in 1942 & 1943 before he went overseas.  I scanned them and will attach them.  At the high resolution, they are large files.

Cheers,

 

Jim

 

Attachments:  (To foregoing April 30 message)

 

DAN-025        Fundeni villager points to crash site       

DAN-026        Fundeni  village crash site view #2

DAN-027        GOOGLE satellite view of crash site

DAN-028        Fundeni village sign

 =======================================================================================================

From: Dan Melinte

To: Jim Graham

Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 9:49 PM

Subject: Vernon Baker story and crash place

 

Jim,

 

I made a new reserch at Fundeni village and I found an important witness from whom I' v got first hand information about Vernon Baker fate. Indeed his P-38 was the one crashed in Fundeni-Frunzanesti village in the "apricot trees garden" the farm of Mr Grigore Ungureanu (a rich man of the village).   The witness Mr Ion (17 years old in'44) was the first who arrived at the crash place.   He saw the pilot dead near the wreck but was in flames. He covered him with earth to stop the fire.   The remains of the pilot were put it in one of the P-38 fuel tank and transported to local cemetery of Fundeni were was burried.    It was the only american pilot burried in that cemetery so no doubts was Baker (as in american commision report).

 

I attached picture with the witness ,cemetery and the church near the cemetery of Fundeni village.

 

Soon I will give you other details about another american pilot crashed  there.

 

 Dan.

 

Attachments:

 

DAN-030        Fundeni village church

DAN-031        Fundeni cemetery

DAN-032        Interview with Mr. Ion in Fundeni

 

 

 

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