Help to find relatives of 2 airmen

[Matteo La Boccia]

Some months ago I and my friends find a aircraft crash site.

I'm looking informations, photos and, if possible, to contact relatives of these airmen:

Maj JACK TELFORD, born 1919, 12 AF, 126 Bomb L, Laon Air Base, France

Cap RICHARD GILBERT, 12 AF, 126 Bomb L, Laon Air Base, France

they dies 7 november 1952 in a crash near Salerno on a B-26 serial 44-35652.

Every informations you can give me will be very useful.

Thanks!

 

[Theakiki]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/archive/index.php?t-16636.html

Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated Thursday, 13th November 1952 carried this story:

Major, Capt Identified as Italy Crash Victims
Weisbaden, Nov. 12 (Special)
Two Air Force Officers killed last Friday when their B26 crashed into a mountainside near Naples have been identified as Maj Jack Telford, pilot, whose address was listed only as St. Quentin, France, and Capt Richard Gilbert, a navigator, of Chicago.

That might make the crash date November 7th 1952.

Email the AFHSO www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil
afhso.research@pentagon.af.mil

and request any details they might have.

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/archive/index.php?t-16636.html

Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated Thursday, 13th November 1952 carried this story:

Major, Capt Identified as Italy Crash Victims
Weisbaden, Nov. 12 (Special)
Two Air Force Officers killed last Friday when their B26 crashed into a mountainside near Naples have been identified as Maj Jack Telford, pilot, whose address was listed only as St. Quentin, France, and Capt Richard Gilbert, a navigator, of Chicago.

That might make the crash date November 7th 1952.

Email the AFHSO www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil
afhso.research@pentagon.af.mil

and request any details they might have.

Thanks. I have already this informations but they were unable to help me. Do you have some idea to find relatives and other informations about these 2 airmen? Thanks.

 

[Mackaydon]

Here's a related article:
"From November 1 to 13, the 168th Bomb Squadron was ordered to Naples, Italy to participate in Operation LONG STEP. There were two accidents during this exercise; one caused aircraft damage and the other resulted in fatalities. Captain Thomas W. Davis’ nose gear collapsed on landing at Naples. He was unhurt but three other aircraft had to divert to Rome because of the blocked runway. Two of the B-26s made it to Rome, but the third crashed in the bad weather and low ceiling. Major Jack Telford, the squadron commander and Captain Richard J. Gilbert, squadron navigator, were killed when their plane crashed into a mountain near Salerno, Italy. These two deaths were the last fatalities suffered by the wing before it rotated home."
Don........
Source: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=16636

 

[Mackaydon]

Matteo:
Do you have personal items from these deceased airmen that you found at the wreck site?
Are you attempting to return personal property to the heirs of the victims? If so, what did you find?
Don.....

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

Matteo:
Do you have personal items from these deceased airmen that you found at the wreck site?
Are you attempting to return personal property to the heirs of the victims? If so, what did you find?
Don.....

No, we just find fragments of aircraft. I'm writing a article about this crash site (and other crash site we find around Salerno) and want to have informations about these airmen. Surely if family want some fragments of aircraft and\or photos of crash site I'ld be glad to send them.
Thanks.

 

[Mackaydon]

Stars and Stripes Newspaper dated Thursday, 13th November 1952 carried this story:

Major, Capt Identified as Italy Crash Victims
Weisbaden, Nov. 12 (Special)
Two Air Force Officers killed last Friday when their B26 crashed into a mountainside near Naples have been identified as Maj Jack Telford, pilot, whose address was listed only as St. Quentin, France, and Capt Richard Gilbert, a navigator, of Chicago.
Don.......

 

[treasurefiend]

Cool I have a Great Uncle (Army Ranger) that fought thru Africa, thru Salerno Italy and eventually thru France

 

[Bramblefind]

There is a family tree connection posted on ancestry.com for Richard Jack Gilbert - but the owner "billatkinson132" has not logged in for over 6 months. He does list that there are some living children though.

Atkinson_BassingthwaighteOct2010 |


Owner: billatkinson132

Richard Jack Gilbert

Birth 18 Apr 1921 in Highland Park, Illinois, USA
Death 1952 in Italy


*
Parents & Siblings


Russell Stanley Gilbert (1898-1970)



Ida Gertrude Cragg (1901-1974)

*
Spouse & Children


Violet June Fisher (1927-1994)



Living Gilbert (-)



Living Gilbert (-)



Living Gilbert (-)

Here is I think his enlistment info-

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
about Richard J Gilbert
Name: Richard J Gilbert
Birth Year: 1921
Race: White, Citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Illinois

Enlistment Date: 2 Jan 1942
Enlistment State: Illinois
Enlistment City: Chicago
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life

Maybe he was also a prisoner of war in WWII?

Name: Richard J Gilbert
Race: White
Residence state: Illinois

Report Date: 22 Feb 1944
Latest Report Date: Jun 1945

Grade: Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide
Grade Notes: Second Lieutenant or Ensign
Service Branch: Army
Arm or Service: Air Corps
Arm or Service Code: Air Corps
Organization Type: Bombardment, Heavy
Parent Unit Type: Group/Regiment/Commands/System
Area Served: European Theatre: Germany
Detaining Country: Germany
Camp: 043
Status: Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
Report Source: Individual has been reported through sources considered official.

I think this might be the same Jack Telford -

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
about Jack Telford
Name: Jack Telford
Birth Year: 1919
Race: White, Citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Oklahoma
State of Residence: Oklahoma
County or City: Carter

Enlistment Date: 5 Jan 1942
Enlistment State: Texas
Enlistment City: Fort Bliss El Paso
Branch: Air Corps
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Aviation Cadet
Grade Code: Aviation Cadet
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life

Education: 3 years of college
Civil Occupation: Actors and actresses
Marital Status: Divorced, without dependents
Height: 72
Weight: 175

I'll see if I can find anything more on him...

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

Cool I have a Great Uncle (Army Ranger) that fought thru Africa, thru Salerno Italy and eventually thru France

Thanks! This is very interesting. Do your uncle remember something about Salerno battle. We often search with md battlefield where USA Rangers and 82 Airborne fought here in Salerno. Perhaps he will like some photos that I'ld glad to send you.

 

[Matteo La Boccia]

There is a family tree connection posted on ancestry.com for Richard Jack Gilbert - but the owner "billatkinson132" has not logged in for over 6 months. He does list that there are some living children though.

Atkinson_BassingthwaighteOct2010 |


Owner: billatkinson132

Richard Jack Gilbert

Birth 18 Apr 1921 in Highland Park, Illinois, USA
Death 1952 in Italy


*
Parents & Siblings


Russell Stanley Gilbert (1898-1970)



Ida Gertrude Cragg (1901-1974)

*
Spouse & Children


Violet June Fisher (1927-1994)



Living Gilbert (-)



Living Gilbert (-)



Living Gilbert (-)

Here is I think his enlistment info-

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
about Richard J Gilbert
Name: Richard J Gilbert
Birth Year: 1921
Race: White, Citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Illinois

Enlistment Date: 2 Jan 1942
Enlistment State: Illinois
Enlistment City: Chicago
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life

Maybe he was also a prisoner of war in WWII?

Name: Richard J Gilbert
Race: White
Residence state: Illinois

Report Date: 22 Feb 1944
Latest Report Date: Jun 1945

Grade: Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide
Grade Notes: Second Lieutenant or Ensign
Service Branch: Army
Arm or Service: Air Corps
Arm or Service Code: Air Corps
Organization Type: Bombardment, Heavy
Parent Unit Type: Group/Regiment/Commands/System
Area Served: European Theatre: Germany
Detaining Country: Germany
Camp: 043
Status: Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
Report Source: Individual has been reported through sources considered official.

I think this might be the same Jack Telford -

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
about Jack Telford
Name: Jack Telford
Birth Year: 1919
Race: White, Citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Oklahoma
State of Residence: Oklahoma
County or City: Carter

Enlistment Date: 5 Jan 1942
Enlistment State: Texas
Enlistment City: Fort Bliss El Paso
Branch: Air Corps
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Aviation Cadet
Grade Code: Aviation Cadet
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life

Education: 3 years of college
Civil Occupation: Actors and actresses
Marital Status: Divorced, without dependents
Height: 72
Weight: 175

I'll see if I can find anything more on him...

Many, many thanks. These documents are very precious. I hope you can find someone of his children so I can ask they some informations about father. I wait again your news. Again thanks!