The Sparta/Wilkins Crew, Information needed

Gentlemen,
This is an information request regarding a topic that has been posted on this forum.


The Sparta/Wilkins Crew , 515th Squadron, posted MIA on July 3, 1944. Mission Giurgiu, Romania. KIA flying B-24, Serial #42-28960.

The information was posted on December 20, 2004, by alexkdl .

Recently I have receive a request from a group of retired US officers that are interested in this missing bomber. The copilot, LT Howard C Wilkins, was from their home town. They would like to find the crash site, their intended target in Giurgiu (POL storage tanks), and any other information regarding the places where the survivor, radio operator Bill Giambrone was detained.

The crash site is stated in MIA report as at 4408 N/2530 E, which is just north of Alexandria, Teleorman, on the initial bomb run, but before the target. The survisor mentiuoned that the plane didn't burn on crash, and that he was able recover a pair of boots from one of his dead crew mates Any information regarding the crash site, i.e.photos will be welcome.

The attack route covered the following waypoints:
San Vito de Nomanni, Italy 40.39N 17.42E
Bar, Yugoslavia (Montenegro) 42.05N 10.05E
Paracin, Yugoslavia (Serbia) 43.52N 21.25E
Cetate, Romania 44.06N 23.04E
Draganesti Vlasca, Romania 44.07N 25.36E
- Tgt Giurgiu, Romania 43.54E 25.58E



Bill Giambrone was captured by civilians, and interogated by a German officer, later imprisoned into a "Bucharest Girl School" turned into a POW camp. Does anyone know where that was or if the place still exists?
[B]

Bill Giambrone says that they were attacked by a handful of GERMAN aircraft. Does anyone know of any victory claim made by ARR on JUlY 3 1944, in these circumstances outlined above?

Any piece of information that will help me solve this puzzle will be duly appreciated.

Thank you all!!

I only know that 6 bombers were claimed by fighters (possibly all Luftwaffe) and 3 by flak.
Cantacuzino is our in-house expert on this, hopefully he will jump in with details.

Gen. Dénes

This post has been edited by Dénes on October 16, 2009 10:28 am

Helo FW 190,


The crash site of B-24 Sn 41-28960 is indeed north of Alexandria in Vlasca county ( Today Teleorman county) close to Galateni village. See attached map red encircled.
The 3 KIA crew members: pilot Lt. Sparta J. James,Serg. Kramer F. Jannis, Serg. Charles C. Ewans were first burried in Galateni cemetery.

The " Bucharest Girl school" was in fact a "Boy School "functioning between 1898 and 1948. It still exist today in the center of Bucharest and now functioning as a Teologic Ortodox High School. See picture attached. The sergents were later switch to another camp near Gara de Nord Marshaling yard ( probably near Witing Hospital or Military Hospital ).

Many thanks Gentlemen, I owe you! Hopefully I'll be able to return the favour one day.

Hello Again,
This is a message for CANTACUZINO, whose help in the present issue is greatly appreciated, but needed again.

With regards to the crash site of the mentioned B24 bomber, #42-28960, the US Air Force MIA report places that at the 44.08 N 25.30 E coordinates. According to Google Earth, this is situated in a rough triangle between the Villages of Calinesti, Laceni and Orbeasca, Teleorman. Which one do you think is more likely?

It also states that 8 aircrew died in the crash and 2 survived and were later repatriated.

You are locating it around the village of Galateni, which is some 15 km north. Considering the fact that 3 dead crew were orginaly buried there, it makes more sense.

I have a few questions:

1. Is there any way of pinpointing the crash site more accurately?
2. The people who contacted me would like to see the first burial site of the copilot, LT Howard C Wilkins. Do you think is possible that he was buried together with his crew mates? Is there possible for the crew to have been buried in different locations?
3. How do you think is possible to find more about this crash? Are Romanian official documents or reports archived somewhere?

Thank you for taking the time to help me in this issue.

1. Yes, it is possible to ask local (old) people from Galteni village, if they remember the crash site.
2. I will try to do some reserch for Lt. Howard Wilkins burial site. It is posible that crew members have different burial locations.
3. Official documents about crashes should be found at Military archivs in Pitesti but are not well organized and few chances to find what are you looking. Other archiv with crash reports should be from Gendermarie ( police) but probably also difficult to serch there. I wish that romanian archivs be organized in the same manner like Maxwell archiv

It is better to contact me by mail if you want more help. Sent me a PM for adress.


Take care
Cantacuzino.

I found that Lt. Howard C. Wilkins, first burial site was also at Galateni cemetery ( together with his crew mates).

On the same day (3july 44) another bomber from 376 BG, B-24 Sn 42-94779 (Cpt Arthur J Staveley,4 KIA 6 Pow) crashed in the same area near Olteni village ( south west of Galateni village in Teleorman county). The MIA report for Cpt. Staveley B-24 places at the same coordinates ( 44.08N 25.30E ) like Sparta/Wilkins crash site.

Hello to All and particularly to "Mr Cantacuzino",

I am the retired American Officer (RAO) who triggered the initial post from "FW 190". I and two other RAO visted the crash site of the Sparta/Wilkins B24 near Galateni on 16-17 May 10.

As part of the visit we were able to review the Galateni crew burial records at the church and also at the town hall. The names from the official Missing Aircraft Report of all of the deceased crew with the exception of Lt Howard Wilkins were listed in each record. In addition the name of Michele de Bellis, not a member of this crew, was listed in the sequence of names of the Sparta/Wilkins crew.

I have two questions, the answers to which I have been researching -

- Lt Wilkins remains were removed in 1950 from "somewhere" and reburied in a national cemetery in Louisville, KY, USA. We reviewed the Galateni burial records of 4 and 5 Jul 44 and also forward of those dates for an individual entry of Lt Wilkins but could find nothing. "Mr C" reported on 10/18/09 that Lt Wilkins' burial was also at the Galateni cemetery. Respectfully, I ask what that information was based upon so that I can provide it to the relatives of Lt Wilkins, the deceased copilot?

- Where did de Bellis come from? Was he a member of another crew that crashed nearby? If so, can anyone advise as to which crew?

Many thanks to all who provided comment on this thread and especial thanks to the Mayor, the Vice Mayor and the senior citizens of Galateni who were so gracious and helpful to us during our visit on 16-17 May 10. Regards to all and any additional information that can be provided will be greatly appreciated.

Hello Mr Jeweleria

First of all I want to say that I was also in the team for serching the Sparta crew crash site at Galateni ( Remember I gave to you books with TW subject ).

The information that Lt Wilkins' (and Michele de Bellis) burial was at the Galateni cemetery is taken from romanian ONCE archives ( I have a friend who worked there)
www.once.ro
If you want more details for the Wilkins burial and reburial process you must ask the IDPF (Individual Deceased Personal Files)of Wilkinson. You can request this files here:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/media/foia-requests.htm

As for the sergeant Michele de Bellis mayby you can try at the same link to obtain any information about him.

Regards
Dan ( aka Cantacuzino)

To Cantacuzino,

Dan, I did not recognize you as Cantacuzino but thanks again for the gift of your most interesting book and your helpful comments. I will follow your suggestions. Thanks again.