1944 Military B-17 Crash Info Re: Matt Ransom

[ldirr]

Greetings and thanks to all of you who have served.

I am searching for information regarding the crash of a B-17 in 1944
approximately 2 miles from Cambridge, UK, and specifically information
regarding my father's American school-mate Matt Ransom who did not survive the crash. He is buried at Madingly.

My father can provide more specific information if necessary.


Thank you in advance for your help.

LYL

[QDMQDMQDM]

Hi,

You might be better off in the aviation history forum. They are a helpful lot over there.

http://www.pprune.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=86

Best,

QDM

[ORAC]

I hope this little helps.... :cool::cool:

WWII AMERICAN CEMETERY, MADINGLEY (http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/MadingleyUSACemetery.html)

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cambridgeshire/images/AmericanCemeteryOverview.jpg

WWII Honor Roll: (http://www.abmc.gov/search/detailwwnew.php)

Matt W. Ransom (http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&rid=5230258), III, Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces, Service # 34854130
728th Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomber Group, Heavy
Entered the Service from: North Carolina, Died: 12-Oct-44
Buried at: Plot E Row 1 Grave 2, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

728th BS: Sqn callsign "Pinetree", Aircraft ID code "9Z*".

http://Mighty8thAF.Preller.US/Memorials/DeophamGreen1.jpg

01/44 to 08/45, 728th, 729th, 730th and 731st Bomb Squadrons of the 452nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Labor ad Futurum' arrived from the USA with B-17G Flying Fortress'. First mission flown 05/02/44, last mission 21/04/45, flying a total of 250 missions, losing 158 B-17s (110 in combat). Won a DUC for the 07/04/45 mission to Kaltenkirchen, 09/11/44 1st Lt DJ Gott and 2nd Lt WE Metzger both won the Medal of Honor. 452nd Bomb Group returned to the U.S.A.


Crash memories still painful for B-17 navigator (http://www.march.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123076265)

The sound of footsteps at night on the wooden walkway outside his hut filled 2nd Lt. Sidney Solomon with dread. It was always a GI coming to notify him and his B-17 Flying Fortress crewmates they would be part of a bombing run to mainland Europe at sunrise.

"You always hoped they'd pass by, but they never did. It was the most scary thing about it," said Lieutenant Solomon, 86. "You hear the steps coming closer and closer and you say, 'I hope he goes by, I hope he goes by.' Invariably, he'd stop."

Early on the morning of Oct. 12, 1944, the crew members were surprised to be awakened because they knew their regular aircraft, Little Miss America, on which they'd completed seven missions, was to be flown that day by another crew. Instead, they were assigned to fly a different plane, Inside Curve, to Germany.

They didn't make it out of England before the aircraft crashed, killing seven of the young men. The only survivors were Lieutenant Solomon and waist gunner Tech Sgt. Paschal H. "Pat" Powell, who lost touch with each other after World War II for more than 50 years.

The son of a barber in New York's Catskill Mountains, the future lieutenant was a college student in Oklahoma when he joined the military to fight the Nazis.

"I'm Jewish and thought, 'Those bastards gotta go.'"

He trained as a navigator, while Sergeant Powell learned his job. They met their fellow aircrew members in Lincoln, Neb.: pilot William Miller; co-pilot Joseph Kayatta; bombardier Robert H. Brucks; tail gunner Matt Ransom III; radio operator Johnny Wilson; engineer/top turret gunner Charles A. Bacharach and ball turret gunner Earl O. Bowen, whose nickname was "Short Round.".......... (more)

[ldirr]

Thank you. I know it has been a long time ago, but
my father is grieving, and I am trying to help. I will try that.

[ldirr]

Thank you so much. I don't have the words to express my
grateful appreciation.

LYL

[ldirr]

Does anyone know if and how Lt. Soloman can be contacted?

LYL

[ldirr]

I believe the question would be both his birth city and his home town in NY. Also if he is still living in Pembroke Pines, FL. Any information on Sidney Solomon would be appreciated, as the President of Alumni Association of AMA would like to speak with him.

The next issue of the Bayonet will have the true story thanks to you and I wish you would thank Emma for the web site which made all of this information possible.

Love,

"Pop"

[StopStart]

Bit of info about Inside Curve (http://emolachance.com/42-39973.html)

http://emolachance.com/images/insidecurve.jpg

A page from the March AFRB website has some info too - http://www.march.afrc.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?id=123076265

Might be worth getting in touch with the people at March for contact details for Lt Solomon. Good luck!

[StopStart]

Oh and I also found this forum (http://forum.armyairforces.com/forumid_68/tt.htm). Reckon there must be some folk on there that know more!

And this (http://www.emolachance.com/index.html)

[StopStart]

Sorry, I'm on a roll here..... Google Books seach came up with this (http://books.google.com/books?id=JyzOA7Kj1FQC&pg=PA137&lpg=PA137&dq=deopham+green+crash+sites&source=web&ots=xPsdg-uPxG&sig=pJBHtl0ld8IfD39WOYdx7gkor28&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA118,M1). Flip to page 118. It's a narrative by Paschel Powell (waist gunner) of the crash of Inside Curve. His phone number in Pasadena is listed on page 120.

The book itself is on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Missing-Planes-Groups-452nd-Group/dp/1412033217/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1213399138&sr=11-1).

[ldirr]

Thanks, dear.

Fantastic links and fabulous information.

I have carefully sent each one along to my father,
and we are very grateful.

LYL

[ldirr]

Ed, this is data on Matt Ransom's death. Jerry came up with a phone number for the only remaining survivor of the crash - 2LT Sidney Solomon, the navigator. I called the number and Solomon answered the phone.

Very gracious fellow. 86 years old and very pretty sharp. He has a picture of the crew of Inside Curve which he is sending to me. He says that Little Miss America had a landing gear problem so they flew that October day in a different plane.

Solomon said he really does not know what happened to his B-17. They were at 14,000 feet and he saw another B-17 nearby which he reported to the pilot and copilot. Immediately after, the plane began to "shake and dance. I think we got caught in the backwash from another plane - maybe the one I saw." They had a full bomb load and when the plane went into a spin, it just fell apart, he says. It broke at the turret gunner position with the tail (with Matt inside) spiraling away.

Solomon does not know how he got out of the plane but thinks he was blown out of the open end. He doesn't remember opening his chute and was told later by some English folk who saw him descend that the chute didn't open until 1,500 feet or less. "I do remember pulling the rip cord but I don't know how high I was," he said.

He also related that Matt was found far away from the main part of the crash and that the ball turret had rolled into some bushes where the gunner was not found for some time.

"Matt's wife was expecting a baby," said Solomon. I told him we were not sure if Matt was married but it would seem to confirm that Matt W. Ransom, IV of Roanoke Rapids might be his son. Since all of the phone numbers for Matt IV were no good (I tried 411 also), I sent him a letter today to the address you found, Jerry. Have no idea if I will hear back from him.

I told him that the military records show that Matt had two years of college. Solomon doesn't think that is correct and I am of the belief that Matt reported his two years at Augusta and someone gave him credit for two years of college.

Waist gunner Pat Powell's widow has a book about Matt's unit. Solomon is to call her and ask that she send me a copy. I have her phone number and I will call her tomorrow to see if Solomon reached her.

Solomon said that Matt was "really a fine young man. He did his job well and everyone in the crew really liked him." When Solomon came back from the war, he decided to visit the relatives of the fellows killed, "but I only made three visits. The mothers were hysterical and two of them denied that their son had died. They thought he was just missing." He did NOT visit Matt's family.
That's all for tonight.

Bob
Bob Bradford, Editor
The Bayonet

[TEEEJ]

Also try the Historic Forum at

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/

Cheers

TJ

[ldirr]

Hello, everyone

Again thank you, one and all, to those of you who helped
me with information about Matt Ransom.

I just got home, after a visit to Cambridge American Military
Cemetary, where I visited the grave of Matt Ransom.
My father gave me his high school badge to place on Matt's
grave, which I did along with a photo of Matt, and a red rose.

The cemetary is a very solemn, immaculate, and honored place,
fitting as a resting place and memorial for the heroes that are there.

En route from London on the train, my children quietly read the narratives that you provided. I wanted them to really understand.

The editor of the my father (and Matt's) high school alumni newsletter was able to contact the surviving member of the flight crew, and finally, my father has peace at last, after 60 years.

[Al R]

Idirr,

I'm glad for all concerned, thanks for sharing.

[Indianzz]

I'm so pleased you were able to visit Madingley and pay your respects - it is indeed a beautiful and sombre place which I try to visit on every trip to the UK.

In May this year I copied the dedication written on the ceiling of the Chapel;

"In proud and grateful memory of those men of the United States Army Airforce, who from these friendly Isles flew their final flight and met their God, they knew not the hour, the day, nor the manner of their passing, when far from home they were called to join that heroic band of Airmen who had gone before - May They Rest in Peace".

May we remain forever grateful and respectful of all who gave their lives for our freedom - We will never forget - God Bless Them All.

[Dengue_Dude]

What an absolute pleasure to read this thread.

I was immensely touched by this story (having been to Madingley). It is a beautiful place, sad, but beautiful.

It reminds us also of the guys that fell 'elsewhere' also belong here.

I recently attended the commemoration of the Bomber Command raid on Mailly le Camp in France when 42 aircraft (mainly Lancasters) were shot down due to a cock up in the 'arrangements' to bomb.

It was a privilege to chat to the guys who were on the raid, now all in their 80's.

So guys, well done. It must be so good to get closure after all these years.

[bbmck]

Idirr,

I was moved by your story, and I hope it will ease your father's grief to know that the baby Matt never knew grew up to be a fine man, who went on to father many wonderful and successful children and grandchildren. Matt met Doris Hurley when she was a student at Seaboard HS in North Carolina. She now lives in good health in nearby Jackson.

I know, because Matt IV is my brother. Doris remarried to Angus McKellar, a navy veteran, after the war; and had two more sons. Matt now stays pretty busy managing his ancestral farm called "Verona" in Northampton County NC; and golfing in Myrtle Beach SC, where he now has a second home.

I'm going to print this thread and give it to Matt and Mom for christmas, and I'm sure they will be pleased. Thank you and your Dad so much for remembering and caring.

Benjie Mckellar

[ldirr]

Sent: 07/31/2009 1:02:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: (no subject)


Dear John,
I meant to write.. but had to work extra duties, and tempus fugit. So, I am sorry that you had to hear about my visit to Matt from John or Lucy, and not from myself.
I visited my dear school friend , who lives just outsde Cambridge, for her 50th Birthday, and we celebrated and I stayed the night.
I went to Cambridge American Cemetary the next morning. It is a beautiful, peaceful place, that is immaculately kept, and the gardens and reflecting pool make it very tranquil. Spread over 30 acres though, I needed a kind warden to show me to where Matt was resting.
So that Matt was not wondering who on earth this English lady was, I inroduced myself. I explained how I had visited with hs genteel friend and lovely wife, in Atlanta who had shown such warmth and kindness towards me, that I had offered to visit on their behalf.
I told how you had wanted to pay your respects, and that he was still remembered, with love and pride for having been his comrade and friend.
I was allowed to leave the flowers there , with your name on them.
There is a beautiful chapel, with inscriptions on the walls, that read :-


GRANT UNTO THEM O LORD, ETERNAL REST





IN GRATEFUL TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICE AND
IN PROUD MEMORY OF THEIR VALOUR



TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND
IN MEMORY OF THOSE
WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY
1941 - 1945

but no facility to light a candle, and so I went to the beautiful local village church, and did that there.
It was a beautiful morning John, and a great honour to be your messenger on that day. It made me remember the quote
" When duty whispers low 'thou must', the youth replies 'I can!' "
and these young men certainly did.
I will try not to be so tardy with my correspondance with you in future! I hope that Louise and yourself are fit and well. Take care, and write when you want to..
love, your friend,
Ann xx