On the 28 of June 1944 after bomb raid to Bucharest, near  village of Churen, Plovdiv region , crashed B-24H S/N 42-52701, from  485^th Bomb Group, 828^th Bomb Squadron (15^th Air Force). Because the autopilot was out of function, the pilot Lt. Crouchley remained  in the plane to provide save bail out of his crew. Probably he died during the crash. 8 airmen were captured the same day. The co-pilot Lt. Hays survived  5 days alone in the mountains.

(MACR 6820, provided by Mr. Randy Hannum)

The Crouchley crew 

          (This picture was taken the morning of their final flight)

Front Row:  J. Crouchley, pilot; W. Hollowell, bombardier; J. Wilson, navigator; W. Hays co-pilot;,
Rear Row:  A. Perillo, right gunner; T. Langstaff, tail gunner; E. LaScotte, nose turret gunner; D. Turner,  engineer / gunner; W. Vanmeer, radio officer/ gunner

Mark La Scotte files

Dan Crouchley's files

Lieutenant John “Dud” Crouchley, The pilot

Lt. Hays- copilot

Survived  5 days alone before been captured on the 2 of July 1944

( Courtesy of Harriet Butchko- daughter of Lt.Hays)

Summer 2007- searching for  the crash site

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