New book about US C-47 losses in operation Market Garden

Wings of Freedom Troop Carrier C-47 losses in Market Garden and the role of the underground movement By Hans den Brok
When the battle for the Arnhem bridges was lost, a legend was born. The brave battle fought by the British airborne troopers would over shadow all other parts of the Market Garden operation. And as where the Arnhem part became famous, the story of the two American Airborne Divisions stayed largely unknown. The Troop Carriers who brought all the paratroopers, except for a small detachment of the British, and all US gliders to the battle zone, remained in the shadow of all Airborne Forces. This book is the first to tell about the C-47 losses in the Market Garden operation. It will tell the stories of the men who flew with the C-47s, dropped paratroopers or towed gliders. Nearly 80 C-47s failed to get back to England and were lost over the Continent. Many men evaded capture with the brave help of Belgian and Dutch civilians. Some paid the highest price for their help. Over one-hundred crew members died.
This book is the result of the questions the author had. Where did a plane crash? What happened to the crew? Who were those men? Where did they stay? Ten years of intensive research resulted in this book. The book counts over 350 pages. There are about 380 photos, many of them never published before.
Wings of freedom | By H. den Brok | Category: History | Blurb

 

any miraculous survival stories? those are always interesting to read. welcome to the forum.

 

Have always been interested in Market Garden, this is what I have from my research:

17 September 1944

42-100522 total 20 on board but the paratroopers jumped before the plane hit the ground. Went down 4 miles north of Eindhoven, Holland.

42-100527, paratroopers jumped at the DZ then the plane crashed, crew survived.

42-100567, right engine hit by flak, paratroopers jumped except one too injured, plane made a belly landing on the DZ and everyone survived.

42-100648

42-100671

42-100672, hit by flak five minutes from the DZ, all paratroopers got out but the last two were on fire. Crew crashed landed and survived. Six of the paratroopers died that day.

42-100676, 10 minutes from the DZ at Eindhoven the plane was seen to be covered in flames, the glider it was towing cut loose and the C-47 went into a dive and had its wings torn off on the way down.

42-100801, towing a glider when the right engine and cockpit was hit by flak, glider cut loose and the C-47 stalled then dived into the ground.

42-100863, after dropping paratroopers at the DZ, plane ran into flak and small arms fire. One paratrooper remained on board, aircraft nose dived into the ground before crew could get out.

42-100965

42-101004, engine on fire right before the DZ, passed over the DZ where the paratroopers jumped out, plane exploded in mid-air before crew could get out. Crew is still listed as MIA.

42-108884, hit by machine gun fire while towing a glider, then had an explosion in the cockpit, three of the crew got out.

42-24066, hit just short of the DZ, but paratroopers where able to get out. Crew bailed out except the pilot who made a controlled crash landing and survived. The navigator tried to find a way home, went to Zon and was told to go to the highway and catch a ride. He did and caught a jeep ride to Eindhoven where he couldn’t go any further so he caught a ride in a British jeep back to the Zon, however there was a Tiger tank shelling the bridge so the truck went back to Eindhoven. After the Tiger was driven off the truck made it back to Zon. On the 20th of September the navigator caught a ride in an ambulance back to Zon where he was put in contact with members of the Dutch underground who took him to the border of Belgium where he caught a ride with a British officer going to Brussels. At Brussels he caught a British C-47 back to England.

42-24111, six minutes from the DZ aircraft was hit and on fire. Paratroopers bailed out, as did the engineer and radio operator. Those two met up with the paratroopers on the ground then met the underground who hid them from German patrols. The underground provided the two with civilian clothes and took them to Arendonck then Postel where them met up with the British.

42-92064, aircraft last seen heading away from the DZ after dropping paratroopers. Crew became POWs.

42-92904 hit by flak on approach to the DZ and after leaving the DZ. Aircraft went down with crew on board but all survived. Members of the underground hid the crew, however the co-pilot decided to go on his own (with one member of the underground) to the town of Graves, where they all met up again. Once they met up with American soldiers at Graves, the crew was put to work digging foxholes on the front line while getting shelled by 88s and strafed by FW-190s and Me-109s. The co-pilot again left the group and headed to the front lines with some glider pilots. The remaining crew went on a work detail back to Graves where they were able to hitchhike to Eindhoven, then to Louvain, then Brussels. All crewmembers made it back to England

43-15102 ran into heavy flak, all paratroopers able to exit aircraft. Two crewmembers were able to get out but one was severely burned. One crewmember made it back to England however the injured crewman was on the DZ when the Germans overran it. When the paratroopers retook the DZ, the crewman was missing.

43-15111, hit by flak but able to drop paratroopers over the DZ. Three crewmembers seen to bailout but only two parachutes opened.

43-15302, 15 miles from LZ W was seen on fire while towing a glider. Glider cut loose, C-47 turned and lost a wing, nosed into the ground before crew could bail.

43-16033, after dropping paratroopers, aircraft was hit over Boxtel, Holland. While watching a C-47 get hit ahead of them and two members of that crew bailout but neither chute open, they were hit as well. Everyone bailed out but were separated. Co-pilot dodged German patrols for over a day before a friendly family took him in. A priest then took him to his monastery where he stayed for 4 days. He was then brought together with three other members of his crew. They hid out for two weeks with civilians before they had to move due to German patrols. While walking in civilian cloths to another location, the Germans would look at their “GI” shoes but none challenged them. Finally met up with about 100 Americans who were also behind the lines and five German Army deserters who were helping the underground (1 French, 1 Austrian, 1 Pole, 1 Czech, and 1 German). Finally made it to the town of Boxtel when the Brits liberated it. He spent 38 days hiding behind the lines.

43-16034, hit by flak and small arms fire leaving the DZ. Two crewmembers parachuted out, three didn’t and were killed. The two survivors where hidden by civilians for a couple of days then rescued by the Welsh Fusiliers.

43-16049 was hit by flak over DZ, went down three miles NE of Groesbeek, Holland after dropping paratroopers. Pilot and radio operator KIA, rest of crew survived.

43-48391 hit by flak near the DZ, paratroopers jumped out then the aircraft made a belly landing on the corner of the DZ and skidded into trees and burst into flames. The crew chief got out ok, but the radio operator didn’t get out in time, he was thrown clear during the crash and survived. Three members of crew killed in the crash.

18 September

42-100556

42-100896, hit by 40mm shell in right engine causing a fire. Paratroopers bailed out. Second 40mm shell hit near cockpit killing two crewmembers. Three paratroopers were wounded in the aircraft and never bailed out. Pilot bailed out the top escape hatch and met up with the paratroopers on the ground, one of who last a leg. The Dutch underground buried the three paratroopers, the one missing a leg, and three crewmembers who died on the aircraft.

42-24177, while turning at the IP the right wing blown off and went straight into the ground. Glider cut loose and landed.

42-24206, glider cut loose then C-47 was hit by flak and crash. One crewmember was a POW.

42-92839, after dropping paratroopers, C-47 was seen to pull straight up, stall, did half a spin, then crash. No crew survived.

42-93001 was seen trailing smoke and flames from the right engine while on approach to the DZ. Crash landed near Rhenen, Holland. Three paratroopers bailed out, but remaining 11 stayed onboard due to low altitude. Two crewmen bailed out of the forward cargo hatch but hit the prop and were killed. One paratrooper died on board when he became entangled in the static lines when the C-47 was on fire. One paratrooper was badly burned on the face and head and said he would give himself up and walked away.

43-15175 was hit by flak inbound to DZ, all paratroopers and crew bailed out.

43-15180, was 20 miles SE of Nijmegen when fuel tank was hit by flak. Aircraft had wheels down for a landing when it hit, skidded and twisted, then burned. No chutes were seen leaving the plane. Had 18 paratroopers and 6 crewmembers onboard.

43-15185, glider tow, hit by flak and all crew bailed out and taken prisoner.

43-15498, glider tow. Crew taken prisoner.

43-15629, last seen catching fire over Boxtel, crew taken prisoner. Glider broke free.

43-15638

43-15641 hit by flak over Boxtel while towing a glider. All crewmember were in the rear of the aircraft preparing to bail out when the aircraft hit the ground. The navigator was thrown forward and sustained a broken neck. He was taken in a German staff car to a hospital in Schjindel, Holland, where he died. Rest of crew were POWs.

43-15643 was towing a glider over Grosbeek, Holland when hit by flak. Glider cut loose and C-47 crew bailed out, except the co-pilot who was probably killed already by flak.

43-15663, hit by flak over LZ, cut glider loose. Co-pilot jumped at 800 feet and had 16 bullet holes in his chute from German machine guns on his way down. All crewmember made it back to England.

43-16032, carrying British paratroopers to Arnhem, Holland. Hit by flak in the navigators compartment, troops bailed out but not the crew. Co-pilot spent 6 days in a civilians house before rescued by a British tank unit. Two crewmembers killed, the rest made it back to England.

43-93098, after crossing into the Dutch coast, glider cut loose. C-47 made a wheels-up landing in a large cultivated field near Hamsteedd, Holland. Co-pilot was killed by German mortar fire (leg severed at the knee) rest of crew POWs.

19 September

42-100551, glider tow. Hit by flak, all crewmember bailed out and made it back to England.

42-100879, after glider cut loose at LZ, C-47 hit by flak, went into a spiral and nose dived into the ground. Nobody got out.

42-100885, (aircraft not lost) on a resupply mission, hit by flak three minutes after crossing Dutch coast. Co-pilot bailed out, but the aircraft landed safely in Brussels. Co-pilot became a POW.

42-108837, glider tow. Glider cut loose. Crew became POWs.

42-24127, glider tow. Got lost from the rest of the formation after crossing the Dutch coast. Cut the glider free, then crashed. C-47 crew met up with glider crew and made it back to England, except for the pilot who died in the crash and a crewmember who’s chute did not open.

42-92739, going into LZ-W, C-47 hit by flak. Glider shot off rope and all aboard were killed. Crew Chief and Radio Operator were in a state of shock and refused to jump out of C-47, so both went down with it.

42-100555, cut glider loose at LZ. Hit by flak, pilot bailed out but fell out of chute because it wasn’t fastened properly. Crew POWs.

42-100770, hit by flak vicinity of Rethy, Holland. Aircraft went into a steep dive and hit the ground. Glider cut loose and landed.

42-92842, hit on resupply mission. Two crew POW, two KIA.

43-48355, hit by flak, glider cut loose. Three crewmembers POW, two KIA.

21 September

43-15612, carrying 11 Polish paratroopers to Arnhem. All paratroopers bailed out, all crewmembers were KIA.

42-93029 after dropping Polish paratroopers at the DZ, was seen to go down and crash. No parachutes of the crew were seen.

43-15339 after dropping Polish paratroopers, C-47 hit by flak. All crew bailed out except the pilot.

23 September

42-101007 hit by flak at the IP, went into a vertical climb, glider cut loose. Three aircrew got out, two didn’t.

42-23935 glider tow. Glider cut loose and all crewmember survived. When crew landed, Dutch civilians took them to an advance British patrol, from there they went to Uden, 101st HQ.

43-15609 glider tow, glider cut loose. C-47 hit by flak and made a belly landing. All made it back to England except for a Lt. Zollinger. He was a “Flight Officer” service T-190899. Does anyone know what a Flight Officer is?

43-48400 glider tow. Hit by flak, glider cut loose. Two crewmember died, three were POWs. In after action briefing, crewmember stated that the Germans who captured them “…attempted first aid but said it was too late and that he died while we were at the plane. They did not act extremely hostile and seemed to be earnestly interested in his condition.”
24 September

43-48268, re-supply mission. All crew POWs.

 

Artem,

Miraculous survivlas? Well, there is enough about crewmembers who bailed out and evaded capture with help of the Dutch and Belgium underground.
I have visited the areas where the planes crashed and learned from locals more details about places where crew members were hidden and who heped them.
So i my opinion there would be interesting stories enough.

Hans

 

Hi Demether,

Impresive, certenly if you figured this out from the Philippines.
There are some open spots in your list.

Hans

 

Hans:
Open spots on the list are because I can't find the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) for them.

 

Missed a couple of C-47s, also added in gliders lost:

17 September:

42-100981, hit by small arms fire. Only four paratroopers got out before the aircraft hit the ground.

42-93803, hit by flak between radio operator and navigator. All paratroopers and crew bailed out. Pilot was found dead on the ground.

43-15098, after dropping paratroopers was hit in both engines, all crewmembers bailed out except the pilot.

43-15308, hit by flak, pilot held plane steady over DZ while paratroopers jumped. Of the crew, pilot, co-pilot, and radio operator died in the crash. Of the 16 who bailed out of the C-47, 14 were taken prisoner.

Gliders lost:

17 September

42-58095, tow rope cut by flak west of Eindhoven. Had one crewmember and three passengers

18 September

43-41684, one crewmember, four passengers. Cut loose east of LZ.

42-79151, one crewmember onboard, unknown number of passengers. Glider hit in wing by flak and disintegrated in mid-air.
.
43-41940, cut loose over LZ, crewmember and two 82nd ABRN passengers POW.

42-77818, same as above

43-19801 same as above

43-40439 same as above

43-41960, one crewmember, seven passengers. Reported to have crashed into a stone building at high speed. Passengers POWs.

43-42110, one crewmember, four passengers from the 82nd ABRN. Cut loose east of LZ.

19 September

42-279442, after crossing coast, glider cut loose and banked to the right, flying into a tow rope of another aircraft severing 1/3 of the gliders wing. Glider nose dived into the ground with no survivors. Six miles NW of Bruges, Belgium. One crewmember, six passengers.

42-56282, glider cut loose over German held territory. Pilot shot in head, abdomen, and pelvis on 20 September.

42-77455, one crewmember, seven passengers. Glider spiraled down and crashed. Passengers listed as POWs.

43-19750, bad weather. Glider last seen cutting loose over German held territory. Unknown number of passengers.

43-19797 same as above

43-39731 same as above

23 September

43-39671, after release, glider stalled out at 100 feet and went straight into the ground. Pilot killed.

43-39695, glider hit by flak and cut loose.

43-40526, same as above

 

View attachment 12113 C-47 shot down near Zon Holland, 23 Sept 1944

 

Dave,

Get the book to find the right date for those two photos.........and more details such as crew, tail number, squadron

Hans

 

View attachment 12123

 

Dave,

I am aware that the dates in the archives say 23 September. Major problem is....no C-47 crashed on the LZ on that day.
The one who wrote down that date made a mistake. It is generally known by researchers (at least here in Holland) that the date given by the archives on these photos is wrong.

You don't need to get my book for that. The After the Battle book on Market Garden (Operation Market Garden Then and Now) mentions:
"...........although officially dated 23 September, more likely dates from the 19th...."

Ten years of research would have surfaced a crashing C-47 on the LZ on the 23rd. But it did not.
It not an RAF Dakota as none of these were listed as crashing on the Lz on the 23rd. See book "Green On" by Arie-Jan van Hees.

You also mentioned a lost C-47 on September 24. This is NOT in Market Garden.

Compiling a list with information from MACRs is a good start. But research in the field, contacts with veterans etc. will provide a more correct picture then all MACR together.

Hans