From a A-36 crash site: Dewey Gossett

[Matteo La Boccia]

Some idea about these fragments? Thanks.

 

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[Matteo La Boccia]

some other photos

 

[bradyboy]

Are you in possession of these parts?
I see the same images posted on other links
I question if this is legal
Just my thought
Brady

 

[mirage83]

The top photo is of a piece of inner structure of the aircraft, either wing or aft fuselage. 2nd photo appears to be a hydraulic line, possibly for operating one of the control surfaces (maybe the dive brakes this a/c had). The CZR unit is part of the radio system, but I can't find any information on which component it was though I would guess it allowed the pilot to select air-to-air air or air-to-ground communication, preset frequencies, etc. The half-moon item I think is the front or back plate on the turn/bank indicator. The small mechanism below that I would guess is part of the weapons control system, perhaps an arming unit for one of the ordnance racks. The last pics are part of the rack which held the communications gear, probably for a TR-5043 radio set. Both us and the Brits used that radio in various fighter aircraft.

 

[mirage83]

Are you in possession of these parts?
I see the same images posted on other links
I question if this is legal
Just my thought
Brady

Not an expert on Italian law by any stretch of the imagination, but I can't find any information online which would indicate that finding or possession of wwii non-explosive or dangerous items would be illegal.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Not an expert on Italian law by any stretch of the imagination, but I can't find any information online which would indicate that finding or possession of wwii non-explosive or dangerous items would be illegal.

Nothing illegal about it, also Matteo has found personal items in the past and worked to return them to families.

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

Are you in possession of these parts?
I see the same images posted on other links
I question if this is legal
Just my thought
Brady

Dear Brady
we are not collector of WWII objects. We are part of SALERNO 1943 association. We are searching this crash site with hope to help DPMO to find remains of Gossett that is MIA from 1943. We cooperate with DPMO like you can read here IL DIPARTIMENTO DELLA DIFESA DEGLI USA E I SALERNO 1943 AIR FINDERS IL DIPARTIMENTO DELLA DIFESA DEGLI USA E I SALERNO 1943 AIR FINDERS. I post here and in other forums fragments just to have some information about them that can help us in our search.
Often we return these fragments and\or personal items to relatives like you can read here:
WWII airman's family receives surprise pieces of history - Houston Chronicle WWII airman's family receives surprise pieces of history - Houston Chronicle
Best regards, Matteo

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

The top photo is of a piece of inner structure of the aircraft, either wing or aft fuselage. 2nd photo appears to be a hydraulic line, possibly for operating one of the control surfaces (maybe the dive brakes this a/c had). The CZR unit is part of the radio system, but I can't find any information on which component it was though I would guess it allowed the pilot to select air-to-air air or air-to-ground communication, preset frequencies, etc. The half-moon item I think is the front or back plate on the turn/bank indicator. The small mechanism below that I would guess is part of the weapons control system, perhaps an arming unit for one of the ordnance racks. The last pics are part of the rack which held the communications gear, probably for a TR-5043 radio set. Both us and the Brits used that radio in various fighter aircraft.

Dear Mirage83 many thanks for your informations!! Your help is very precious! Do you have some idea about buckels in last photos? I think them are of seat belt but I not find any old photo that can confirm this....

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Some cockpit images of the A-36

 

[bradyboy]

Im sorry I questioned if it was legal to have these parts in your possession. It was just a question and nothing more But it reminded me of the time when the space shuttle crashed. It was a big deal if anyone was in possession of any part of any kind and offered sever penalty's I assumed it might also apply to government military aircraft as well as it might have some forensic value to a crash. Sorry BradyBoy

 

[mirage83]

Dear Mirage83 many thanks for your informations!! Your help is very precious! Do you have some idea about buckels in last photos? I think them are of seat belt but I not find any old photo that can confirm this....

Those I can't find anything specific on Matteo, none of the few pics of original Mustang seat restraints I've come across is detailed enough to make a firm judgement. However, the upper piece in the pic appears to be more of a handle or hand-hold than a harness buckle or connector.

 

[mirage83]

Im sorry I questioned if it was legal to have these parts in your possession. It was just a question and nothing more But it reminded me of the time when the space shuttle crashed. It was a big deal if anyone was in possession of any part of any kind and offered sever penalty's I assumed it might also apply to government military aircraft as well as it might have some forensic value to a crash. Sorry BradyBoy

I don't think anyone took offense at your question BradyBoy, so no harm no foul. And I know where you're coming from with parts and components from the space shuttle tragedies.

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

Finally we find some bones of MIA airman Dewey L. Gossett. We promptly informed italian military police (Carabinieri) and DPMO.

 

[SkaBa]

Great job.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I found this on F.O. Dewey L. Gossett - but it claims he was KIA in North Africa in 1943. Not that unusual in the "fog of war". Thanks for helping to bring him home.

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

I found this on F.O. Dewey L. Gossett - but it claims he was KIA in North Africa in 1943. Not that unusual in the "fog of war". Thanks for helping to bring him home.

View attachment 1075733

Yes, this is the monument that relative do for him. North Africa Area or Mediterranean Area was the large common name that USA War Office used for places of sector from North Africa to South Italy. We are in South Italy.

 

[N.O. noir et d'or]

Matteo, I want to thank you very much for the wonderful work you are doing with these recoveries. As an American, I am profoundly grateful for your efforts. Please convey my sentiments to your colleagues as well. I believe that the karma train will provide you with many free rides! N.O.

 

[Ant]

I didn't read the other replies, so here is mine:
1) Part of an instrument panel that held round gauges.
2) This is a hydraulic hose with a clamp to secure it to a solid anchor.
3) This is a duel on and off switch. The pins on the right are for an electrical wire harness connector. These pins are still in use today. I work with the same pins so I’m familiar with single waterproof connections used on tactical vehicles; different pins are used for multi wire harness connections and plugs. This switch has something to do with audio. The evidence is at the round port on the bottom left, which is a RCA jack which is normally used with headphones. And on the top left that double claw looking clamp held as electrical cable.
4) The evidence is that this is a Data Plate for a Radio Frequency selector.
5) The evidence is that this is a dial or knob for a Radio Frequency Selector.
6) The evidence is that this is a Data Plate for a Radio Frequency selector.
7) ?
8) ?
9) ?
10)?
11) This looks like part of an instrument panel, a round gauge would have been mounted in it.
12) This looks like it has something to do with exhaust pressure. I have seen similar types of valves used on pulse injection.
13) This looks like the face of a round instrument gauge.
14) This label points out to the maintainer where he should pour the coolant (antifreeze) at.
15) This is a hydraulic control valve, similar to a master cylinder used on automobiles. It could control any hydraulic circuit and could have been actuated by a handle, cable, foot pedal, etc.
16) Same as above.
17) Need a scale for reference but looks like coverall (flight suite) buckles, but I go with you saying restraint buckles.
18) My guess is this is a bomb rack was attached to a wing or fuselage.
19) Same as above.

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

Here is a report for the Press:

LOST WWII USA AVIATOR FOUND

After more than 71 years the remains of Dewey L. Gossett will have a decent burial. Researchers from the Italian Association Salerno 1943 in collaboration with the government department Protezione Civile of the city of Acerno, identified some remains that may belong to the American aviator crashed on Mount Accellica September 27th, 1943.

It's been since long time that the volunteers of "Salerno 1943" identified the spot where the A-36 of Gossett fell; The volunteers were contacted by Joshua Frank, Italy's agent of DPMO, the office of Department Of Defense of United States For Prisoners of War And Missing in action.
Joshua asked the members of the association to do everything possible to identify the burial of the remains of the unfortunate aviator Gossett can be returned to family members in the United States. The members, who have already collaborated on other occasions with the DPMO , swiftly becoming their representative for the south of Italy, were promptly put to work by checking if they could find around the point of impact a burial , without being able to locate any evidence. Obviously, the first civilians on the scene, probably in the spring of 1944, they found only the wreckage of the aircraft and they could not find the remains of the unfortunate aviator who probably had been torn apart by the wild animals living in the forest.

This made the search much more complicated. The President of Salerno, 1943, Luigi Fortunato says: "It is not possible through the metal detectors at our disposal to find the bones. When we found human remains, as was the case for the 4 soldiers (2 Germans and 2 British) that we found around the Battlefield of Operation Avalanche, it has been possible thanks to the fact that the soldiers were carrying metal objects like ammunition , accoutrements, etc. We then continued to explore the area of the crash, paying attention to any metal object. Our focus has been in the area where on previous occasions we had found the metal elements of the parachute and the flight uniform .At one point near a metal buckle that was used to support the harness of the parachute appeared small bone fragments and then what appeared to be part of a human jaw. We therefore interrupted the research and informed the military authorities. In this regard, I wish to express our appreciation for the gracious help shown by the Carabinieri in the person of Lieutenant Colonel Pasquale De Luca, Captain Giuseppe Costa and chief marshal Pasqualino Fisichella who promptly initiated the proceedings of the case. We also warned Joshua Frank as the DPMO is in contact with the granddaughter of Gossett, thanks to whom, it will be possible to start the DNA comparison . We are not doctors but the bones might be human, and if the DNA investigation will prove that they are, they for sure belong to Dewey because they were among the fragments of the aircraft in an inaccessible and difficult to access area , not usually frequented by people.

I want especially thanks to our friends that help us for this hard research: Aniello Sansone, Italo Cappetta , Pietro Di Martino, Daniele Gioiello, Pierpaolo Irpino, Valerio Lai, Rosalino Margagnoni, Matteo Pierro e Matteo Ragone”.

Dewey L. Gossett, was born on 28 February 1920 at Arcadia in South Carolina by William Cleveland and Sarah Hughes Gossett. At the outbreak of World War II he enlisted in American aviation and was later assigned to the 86th Fighter Group which fought in Italy. On September 11, 1943 he participated in the attack in Troina during the Sicilian campaign. The Airplane he piloted was an A-36, nicknamed Apache or Invader, a dive bomber, ground-attack version of the P-51 Mustang but far more vulnerable. His aircraft was hit by a bullet in the anti-aircraft tail plane and Dewey managed thanks to a big effort, to return safely to base. A photo taken on his return portrays the damage and was being used by the Newspapers and being titled "Take it and come back safely"

Gossett's A-36 was not so lucky on September 27, 1943. His squadron was taken off from the airport that the Americans had built at the mouth of the river Sele in the days immediately following the landing. The task of the day was to provide tactical support to US forces who pursued the retreating Germans to the north along the streets of Irpinia. Nearby Acerno, the Air squadron Leader realized to be too close to the cliffs of Mount Accellica that were partially hidden by low clouds and then ordered his men to gain altitude. Once they passed the clouds they realized they had no sight of Dewey. For some time they flew over the area , but they could not get a visual of his aircraft. In the meantime the rain started to fall heavily and they could not continue the search.

Volunteers of Salerno 1943 hope their discovery could finally allow Gossett's family members to to have a tomb in which to remember their loved one. Their hope is that USA authorities can investigate crash site to find other remains of unlucky airman.



Salerno 1943 Association Card

Salerno 1943 was founded in Salerno in 2007 by a group of friends and fans of local history. It is no profit, non-political, non-partisan and rejects war as a means of settling disputes between nations. The statutory objectives are the collection, cataloging, conservation, restoration, and above all, sharing any military and civil material belonging to the Second World War in the Campania region.

Far from the desire to glorify the Second World War, the association intends to introduce to the new generations , the concept that war means death and pain. Just think of the families of those who lost their lives, the anxiety that mothers, wives, children, parents, brothers and sisters felt seeing their loved ones leaving for war and the agony they suffered when they learned that many of them would never return.. Hopefully, reconstructing the stories of so many young lives cut short by the war, will help perpetuate the memory of the victims and remind the younger generations of those unhappy years so that such events will not be repeated.

So far, the volunteers of the association have identified the remains of five soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War and identified the crash site of 30 aircrafts which fell in the Campania region or in neighboring regions, helping discovering what happened to many military crews.

To bring these stories to light, the Association has published the book “Salerno 1943. Gli aviatori, le storie, i ritrovamenti dell’operazione Avalanche” published by D’Amico Editore, 2013. Currently you can visit two free exhibitions held by the association at the State Archives and the Library of the Province of Salerno.

If you wish to receive further informations, here are all our contacts: phone 347\5178529,
www.1943salerno.it email: redazione@1943salerno.it https://www.facebook.com/groups/129119250509719/

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

The result of our search: 72 years later, lost WWII soldier laid to rest in Wellford | GoUpstate.com 72 years later, lost WWII soldier laid to rest in Wellford | GoUpstate.com