I am writing on behalf of an Aviation Group situated in the Southwest of Scotland. We are known as the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Group, and were formed approximately 11 years ago. Our vase is situated three miles Northeast of the town of Dumfries, where we have established a private aviation museum. The museum is situated in the former control tower of the disused airfield on Tinwald Downs in the above mentioned location. We have a varied collection of aviation material including several aircraft. Our group specialises in crash-site restoration and research, and it is the latter which we hope you will be able to help us wit.

On the morning of 17 January 1949 at 0950 hours an American B-29A superfortress crashed in Succoth Glen, Argyllshire, Scotland, with the loss of all 21 crew members. The aircraft, Serial No 144-62276, belonged to the 301st Bomb Group, and was returning to its home base at Smoky Hill, Salina, KS. The crash occurred shortly after take-off from Prestwick Airport where it had been refuelling. The aircraft was returning to its home base in Kansas, and may have been slightly off course at the time of the crash. We have never been able to establish whether or not this was the case. Presuming the aircraft was flying via Iceland, then the crash site would suggest that they may have been slightly off course. We do not know the cause of the crash or whether it was ever at any time established. The aircraft was returning to the United States following exercises in Furstenfieldbruck, Germany. Our Group first visited the site in 1981 following a request from the Ministry of Defence telling us that items were found at the crash site. On investigation our group found several items; papers and documentation regarding the aircraft and its movements, articles of Air Corps insignia, assorted tools etc, several items of a personal nature.

These items were offered to the USAF base at Mildenhall, England. However, nothing has been forthcoming and due to the lapse of time we decided to seek your advice. The only identifiable personal items we have in our possession belong to a Tech/Sgt John Babtista Lappic. These items consist mainly of letters and birthday cards from his wife and children plus several photographs. Some of these items have been badly damaged by oil and the elements; amazingly however the cards and much of the letters are still readable. Several of the photographs are still easily discernible and would appear to be of his wife and children. They were found in an old case under a section of wing wreckage. This obviously accounts for their partial preservation considering they lay on a remote Scottish mountainside for a period of approximately 32 years. While we have no wish to reopen old wounds, we feel that perhaps somewhere out there in the United States someone would like to have these items. The opposite may, however be the case, but we would be happy to hand over these items if any relatives could be traced. At this point I would very much like to emphasise that since their recovery none of these items of a personal nature have ever at any time been on display in our museum. This is not our policy and is never considered unless we have written permission from relatives. The items mentioned above have always been in a locked room and preserved to the best of our ability.

Tech/Sgt John B Lappica has logged many wartime flying hours in B-17s etc, flying over Germany before going to the Far East and the Japanese theatre. One letter recovered had been posted in Tokyo in 1946. He had been awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal and Bar, plus other decorations and Qualifications.

We have in our possession his discharge certificate. As follows:

Tech/Sgt John Babtista Lappica
Serial No 32986735

Hon Discharge
Squadron: B4 3704th AAF
Separation Base, Scott Field Illinois
26/10/45
Date of Birth: 20/11/23
Date of Induction: 19/08/43
Born: Brooklyn, New York
Dependants: 2
Civilian Occupation: Marine Fireman
Entry Date Active Service: 09/08/03
Address: 1171 Dram Street, Brooklyn, New York
ROU Gunner

Signed by: FF Christine, Colonel, Air Corps

We do not know why he was still in the service in 1949. Perhaps reenlistment or as a reservist.

As far as we can gather from recovered documentation, his wife's name was Frances? and in 1949 we think he had three children: Frances Maria, Jeannie and Rose Ann, and at that time were still living in Brooklyn, New York.

Our group would be interested to know if the 301st Bomb Group is still in existence, or if there are any squadron or Bomb Group associations in the United States. We would be happy to hand over any documentation or items we have to any such group.

We would also like to know if B-29A No 144-62276 had any active role in operations during World War II.

It may be of some interest to you to know that we have had considerable help from the USAF based in this country over the past few years. It was with the help of 67th ARRS Sikorsky HH63C that we were able to airlift and erect a memorial stone on a local mountain top. This memorial is in commemoration of airmen who lost their lives in this region. The stone bears the names, rank, etc of British, American and German airmen killed in flying accidents over the years. There is hopefully a possibility that at some time in the future we may be able to carry out a similar venture in memory of the crew who died aboard B-29A, 144-62276 in 1949. Although our group is active, we do not have as many members as we would like. However, we may be lacking in numbers, we certainly do not lack enthusiasm, and have a very keen interest in all aspects of aviation. We are a voluntary group with full-time jobs, with the result that time is frequently our enemy. Restoration work can be slow; we are at present in the throes of trying to restore a Spitfire Mark 2. This aircraft was recovered from a local loch where it had been since crashing over 40 years ago. Much of it is in very poor condition, but the Merlin engine is in amazing condition, perhaps one of the bet ever recovered in this country.

We hope you will be able to help us in our research, or to advise us in any way which would be of interest. Perhaps there may be groups in the USA who are interested in this sort of venture, and with whom we could get in touch with. Please find enclosed two photographs taken at the crash site of B-29A, 144-62276. One shoes the rear turret section of the aircraft and a general view o the crash site.

We hope that sometime we will be able to recover the turret section. The area is remote, and we hope to obtain some help from the Scottish Forestry Commission and their vehicles.

Meanwhile keep up the good work on your excellent magazine and I hope to hear from you in the not too distant futu5re.

Yours faithfully
Ronal J Waugh