Served with the 95th and 100th BG's. On
11 Sep 1944 his plane 42-97961 crash landed in Morhange, FRA. The
target was Ruhland, GER. This mission the plane flew as lead PFF with
a mixed crew of 95/100 BG personnel.
Crew list:
P: MAJ M. F. Youngs (350BS)
CP: LT G. P. Fory (Lead pilot 418BS)
N: LT J. A. Huffner (95BG/later 100BG)
N: LT C. E. Gunter (Lead Nav 350BS)
ROG: T/S G. O. Knauff (418BS)
MO: LT M. J. Kretow (418BS)
PFF: S/S D. D. Wilcox (418BS)
WG: S/S L. E. Nunnery (418BS)
He was drafted into the army in 1941 and went
to OCS at Ft. Benning, GA for the infantry and was with the 79th division at
Camp Pickett in Va. He transferred to the Army Air Corps and started flight
training at Valdosta GA. This was about late 1942 or early 43.
He washed out and went into bombardier training at San Angelo, TX. After
that he went to Boise, ID where he joined a crew on B-24s. They went to
England in 1944 and they were assigned as a replacement crew at Wendling.
The squadron was either the 577th on 578th.
After several missions he became a lead bombardier. His original crew was
lost over Bingen, GR on Dec. 2 1944. He finished his tour and was separated
from service around late 1945.
His home town was Cincinnati, OH and he is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery.
Source: John T. Mackelfresh: jtommack@earthlink,net
Standing: 1LT Vito Fierro-pilot, 2LT John Patton-copilot, 2LT Thomas
Macklin-bombardier, 2LT. Hugh Fowley, Jr-navigator
Kneeling: Sgt. George Evanoff-gunner, Sgt. William Stottlemyer-gunner,
T/Sgt. Harry Astley-radio op, S/Sgt. James Campbell-gunner, Sgt. Tony
Lavoie-gunner, T/Sgt. Dave Cook-engineer
Macknikowski
Francis
P
CB 45-01
Photo of wings.
Note LOW CE on wings. LOW CE means low circle of error. He may have
had the lowest for his flight or class.
Became a POW on 1 Jan 1945 when his plane B-17 43-38252 was
shot down and crashed near Windberg GER. Pilto on the mission was 2LT Elton
F. Mann. 5 KIA and 5 POW. MACR 11353. POW at Stalag Luft 1.
MacLeod
2LT
Donald
H
MI 44-12
373
494
MacNeil
Lawrence
J
CL 43-11
367
306
Shot down and killed on 22 Feb 1944, while
flying plane 42-31500, The Duchess. The target was Oschersleben,
GER but the plane crashed in Grand-Hallett, BEL. The entire crew was
killed.
Crew List:
P: LT Francis W. Macomber
CP: LT Charles R. Wickham
N: LT Robert W. Wigton
TT: S/S Charles E. Graham
RO: S/S Leopoldo Tortora
BT: Agt Emil Bohaty
LW: Sgt Donald W. Shinners
RW: Sgt Gunnard M. Johnson
TG: Sgt Bruce D. Cox
KIA on 2 Aug 1944 when his B17G #42-40020 was brought down
near Macquenoise, BEL while on a mission to Franfurt, GER. MACR 2492.
According to "Project Bits and Pieces":
P: 2LT Phillip D. Stuckey KIA Woester, OH
CP: 2LT Francis W. Green KIA Yula, OK
N: 2LT Elwin F. Butler KIA Mount Vernon, OH
B: 2LT Howard W. Madsen KIA Darby, PA
TT: S/S George T. Kruse KIA Astoria, NY
RO: Sgt Lee R. Frakes EVD Erlanger, KY
BT: Sgt Henry C. Kennemur POW Meckleburg, AL
LW: Sgt Arthur B. Jones EVD Bartlesville, OK
RW: Sgt Odis R. Pickering EVD Houston, TX
TG: Sgt Carl W. Mielke EVD Baltimore, MD
Crew list:
P: LT Eldred Shumaker
?: LT James H. Griffen
?: LT Walter O'Halleran
B: LT Carroll A. Maggini
?: T/S Lowell E. Reed
?: T/S Peter J. Hagen
?: S/S Milton Marlin
?: S/S Donald Morris
?: S/S Allen G. Fuller
?: S/S Roy Schawlenburg
Shot down on 10 Feb 1944 while on mission to
Brunswick, GER
Crew list:
P: James D. Pearson
CP: Ralph R. Roe
N: Frederick P. Springer
GNR: S/S Horzie R. Kees
ENG: S/S Sam D. Orliet
RO: S/S Ralph W. Coyle
GNR: S/S Albert Durham
GNR: S/S James P. Henry
GNR: S/S Jackson O. Hardeman
CREW BB-73, arrived 1 MAY
P: 2LT Joseph R. Griffitt CP: 2LT Frederick G. Finkelstein
N: 2LT Robert R. Langner
B: 2LT Anthony B. Mancini
GNR: S/S Alton Q. Davis
RO: S/S James C. Vaughan
GNR: Sgt. Charles E. Crawford
GNR: Sgt. John (NMI) Kassick
GNR: Sgt. William J. Leppanen
GNR: Sgt. Charles E. Oliver
Became a POW on 15 Sept 1943 when his plane Pistol Packin'
Mama was shot down on a mission to Hai Phong, Vietnam. Joseph spent 2
years in a POW camp in Malaysia.
A family legend is that he inspired a minor character in
James Clavell's book 'King Rat'. That of Skinner Joe, so named
because he could skin a rat in under a minute.
P: 1LT Charles Nash
CP: 2LT John Fenick
N: 2LT L.E. Ponick
B: 2LT Emil E. Maniak
RO: T/S Wallace Doerfler
NG: S/S Andrew Lopez
FE: S/S Arthur Fitch
BT: S/S Charles Kowalski
WG: T/S Robert Hecht
TG: S/S Robert Purdue
Apparently Fitch, Hecht, Doerfler and Purdue all died in a
train accident near Terre Haute, IN on 14 Sep 1944 on the way back to Italy
after leave. It is believed that the remaining crew men survived the
war.
Became a POW on 14 Oct 1943 when his B-17F #42-30813 named
Queen Jeannie was brought down near Neeroeteren, BEL on a mission to
Schweinfurt, GER. MACR 820.
Crew list:
P: 2LT R. Mc Callum KIA
CP: 2LT Homer D. Fitzer KIA
N: 2LT Albert J. Prentice POW
B: 2LT Paul V. Manning POW
GNR: T/S Marvin L. Bartlett POW
RO: T/S John W. Drennan KIA
GNR: S/S James E. Dunford KIA
GNR: S/S Ned L. Bostic KIA
GNR: S/S Austin H. Sadler POW
GNR: S/S Willard H. McQuarrie POW
POW on 28 July 1943 when his B-17 42-3282 on raid to
Obersleben, GER. Entire crew was captured. MACR 118.
Crew list:
P: James F. Rivers
CP: FO Warren F. Boelter
N: 2LT Lester (nmi) Moreland, Jr.
TT: T/S Charles D. McLaughlin
RO: Sgt Frank M. Barnhill
BT: S/S Donald C. Jenson
LW: S/S Neil (nmi) Maxa
RW: S/S Paul M. Tomasko
TG: S/S Raymond W. Chapman
The mission was to deliver canisters to the
underground forces operating in Norway on a typical carpetbagger B-24H,
painted black, nicknamed .Tiger.s Revenge., tail number 42-94816.
Flew with the Keeney crew, Lt Stephan Marangas acted as Bombardier-Radar Operator. Tiger's Revenge, was hit by
both German fighters and anticaircraft fire near the coast of Norway, bail
out bell rang, Marangas couldn't find chute, jumped entwined with radio
operator and was stripped from RO. when chute opened. Marangas died, 2 were captured and 7 were rescued by MILORG and transported to Sweden.
From MACR 14189 relating to the incident on 20/21 Apr 1945.
It appears this was his 21st mission and 19 were on the Keeney crew.
The following is from a separate intelligence debriefing of Lt Devine,
Navigator on Tiger's Revenge.
"The pilot thereupon sounded the bail-out alarm. Everyone reached ground
safely except the Mickey Operator, Lt Marangas. As Lt Divine was jumping
from the cat-walk in the in the bomb bay, he heard Marangas say that he was
unable to find his parachute. Later Divine learned that Marangas had bailed
out piggy-back fashion with S/Sgt Brabec, the radio operator, and has either
slipped or jumped at some distance from the ground and had been killed."
The German's found his body and he was buried in Undersbro churchyard near
Larvik, Norway. Subsequently the remains were transferred to the US.
LT. ROY H. MOHR, JR. WAS THE PILOT OF
B-17F-90-BO #42-30203 ASSIGNED TO THE 388TH BOMB GROUP/560TH BOMB SQUADRON.
THIS B-17F WAS SHOT DOWN OVER FRANCE ENROUTE HOME FROM A BOMBING MISSION TO
STUTTGART, GERMANY. DUE TO UNFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND EXTREME CLOUD
AND SMOKE COVER, THE 388TH STAYED WITH THE 96TH LOOKING FOR TARGETS OF
OPPORTUNITY. THEY MADE A BOMBING RUN ON STRASBOURG. APPROX 35 MILES AWAY
FROM THAT TARGET, THEY LEFT THE FORMATION. THEY HAD BEEN HIT BY FLAK AND
NOW WERE BEING HEAVILY ATTACKED BY GERMAN FIGHTERS. LT MOHR GAVE THE ORDER
TO BAIL OUT. IT IS KNOWN WITH CERTAINTY THAT 8 MEN BAILED OUT OF THE
CRIPPLED AIRCRAFT. IT IS ALSO STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT LT MOHR AND THE
COPILOT BAILED OUT SAFELY. HOWEVER, LT MOHR WAS NEVER TO BE SEEN OR HEARD
FROM AGAIN. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY POSSIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MAN?
EMAIL ME AT:
KDKUTT@AOL.COM
B-17G #42-31372 code: OR-P name: Malayan Lady
or/and Harass Dragon.
She failed to return due to Luftwaffe fighters' action and crashed near Bad
Muender in Germany.
Crew list:
P: LT Edwin R. Reid KIA Springfield, OH
CP: 2LT Richard C. Morgan KIA Long Beach, CA
N: 2LT John B. Haus POW Wilkes-Barre,
PA
B: 2LT George (NMI) Marghita KIA Detroit, MI
TT: T/S Ernest O. Kretchmer POW Tracy, WI
RO: T/S Benton E. Lowry KIA Napoleon, OH
BT: S/S John A. Gustafson, Jr. KIA Kane, PA
LW: S/S Arnold L. Hovey POW Hangen, WI
RW: S/S Melvin P. Stoddard KIA Garfield, NJ
TG: S/S Anthony W. Czarnecki KIA Lyndhurst, NJ
His plane, 42-31440, was shotdown over
Calais, FRA 4 Feb 1944. He and his entire crew survived as POW's.
Officers went to Stalag Luft 1 and the EM's to Luft 4. MACR 2240.
Crew list:
P: 2LT Henry L. Ware, O-746472
CP: 2LT James P. Roberts, O-666577
N: 2LT Clark R. Amen, O-807959
TT: S/S Robert W. Longerbone, 15339203
RO: S/S Nicholas G. Tricoles, 12194013
BT: S/S Arden J. Butler, 16026992
RW: Sgt Robert (nmi) Waldrop, 15329091
LW: Sgt Frederick S. Braniger, 39278777
TG: S/S Reed H. Kuykendall, 34362480
Mariotti
1LT
Bruno
J
CB 43-18
864
494
KIA 25 July 1945.
Markham
O-757890
John
J
RS 43-15
From NJ.
Marks
2LT
Morton
L
VV 44-14
347
99
1 Oct 1943: mission to Augsberg, GER was
aborted due to cloud cover, bombed Feldkirch, AUS instead. Plane
42-5856, named Hubba-Hubba was damaged and headed to
Switzerland. Was shot down by Swiss AF and crashed at Alveneu. 5
KIA, 5 POW. Marks was a POW. MACR 795.
Crew list:
P: 1LT William J. Cantwell - POW
CP: 2LT Marvin Boydston - POW
N: 1LT W. H. Breslin - POW
ENG: Sgt Bruce R. Rowen - POW
Remaining crew all KIA:
Sgt Saturnino Chavez
Sgt Murray R. Phillips
Sgt Gordon T. Schenkelberger
Sgt Jesse G. Madox
Sgt K. A. Highbotham
Martin was KIA when the crew was shot down by
e/a on a 21 Feb 1944 mission to Brunswick, GER. Plane 42-39814 crashed
near Salzgitter, GER. MACR 2425.
Crew list:
P: A R Smith - KIA
CP: J F Lynn - POW
N: B T Moynahan - POW
TTE: L E Messler - POW
RO: H W Angus - POW
WG: W O Ford - POW
WG: D G Kricke - KIA
BT: F V Morales - KIA
TG: R E Means - KIA
Crew list:
P: LT James A. Wampler
CP: LT. Talmage T. Payne, O-835255
N: LT. Fred Shackleton
RO: Cliff Beal
BT: Stan Ketvirtis
TG: Jack Stebelton
ENG: Cliff Sparks
NG: George Poole
TT: Robert Burcham
KIA 2 Jan 1945, Clark Field in plane B-24J #
44-40684.
Matheis
2LT
O-659906
Stuart
J
434
98
Mathews
2LT
Robert
W
BZ 43-13
706
446
Flew A/C 42-95175 on 25 June 1944.
Crew list:
CP: 2LT Joseph Johnston
RW: T/S Ernest E. Harrison
TT: 1LT Joe S. Montgomery
Mathis
1Lt
Jack
L
VV 42-09
359
303
For Medal of
Honor commendation.
The Mathis Municipal Airport, San Angelo, Texas was named in 1988 in honor
of the Mathis Brothers. The Mathis Sports & Fitness Center, Goodfellow AFB, TX was dedicated and named in honor of Jack Mathis on 19
June 1966.
Mathis
1LT
Mark
R
MI 42-10
359
303
The brother of Jack Mathis, he became a bombardier
shortly after Jack was killed. Mark was killed on 14 May 1943 on his
fourth mission after bombing Kiel, Germany. The Mathis Municipal Airport,
San Angelo, Texas was named in 1988 in honor of the Mathis Brothers.
Matney
2LT
O-695370
Arlo
R
MI 43-15
826
484
Became a POW at Shuman, BUL camp on 11 June 1944. MACR:
6014.
Crew list:
P: 2LT William K. Mackey O-807481
CP: 2LT Arthur H. Bortz O-816777
N: John C. Gallagher O-702996
ENG: S/S Louis V. Longinette 37414178
RO: Sgt Serrafine Corrales 39119903
GNR: Sgt Clifford H. Smith 33718333
GNR: Cpl Burton G. Holtzman 16056961
GNR: Cpl Bernard Sabbath 16129636
Matthews, Jr.
O-757892
Adelbert
C
RS 43-15
From NY.
Mattingly, Jr.
1LT
J
B
WM 42-16
567
389
Source: Arthur Plouff - A.plouff@worldnet.att.net
Mause
James
P
WM 43-01
365
305
Became POW when shot down while on plane
41-24533 on 22 June 1943. Crashed near Valburg. HOL. 4 were KIA and
POW. MACR 16205.
Crew list (incomplete):
P: John J. Hall - POW
N: Walter E. Allen - POW
ENG: Jasper S. Doster - POW
LW: W C Morris - POW
RW: Sgt Gunson - KIA
May
2LT
Richard
A
VV 42-17
563
388
DNB on 21 June 1943 when his plane 42-30229 named Shooting
Star disappeared while enroute to Iceland.
Crew list:
P: 1LT Marvin F. Kamholz
CP: 2LT Otis E. Strobel
N: 2LT Leonard Fischer
B: Richard A. May
TTE: T/S Earl L. Persyn
RO: T/S Paul J. Orsulak, Jr.
BT: S/S Roland A. Metivier
LW: S/S Robert B. Miller
RW: S/S Robert E. Eggleton
TG: S/S William Marko
Mazur
2LT
O-716923
Edward
J
MI 44-04
716
449
KIA in Spinazzola, Italy, 8 January 1945.
The James Bivins crew was
flying the mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Linz.
Place of Death: 1/4 Mi. N. of 449 BG Field (Italy)
Cause of Death: Plane Crash (KIA)
Burial: 9 January 1945 1100 hrs, US Military Cemetery, Bari, Italy,
Grave # 1753
His body was returned to the United States in 1948 and interred in Saint
Stephens Cemetery in Keasbey, New Jersey.
Crew list:
P: James Bivins
CP: Harold Jones, died a few days later.
N: F. Lopez, died a week later.
B: Edward J. Mazur KIA
TT: J. T. Greer POW
NG: J. S. Hebda KIA
BT: L. P. Malihowski POW
WG: L. F. Blair POW
WG: W. R. Fisher POW
TG: A. R. Stahman POW
Photo: J. H. Given POW
Went to England in July, 1942. he flew several missions
against enemy installation in Northern France and the Netherlands before
being transferred to N. Africa in Nov, 1942. McAdams participated in
59 missions in Europe, Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, Naple-Foggia, Balkans and
Egyptian campaigns. His aircraft was shot down over the Straits of
Messina in the fall of 1943 and he returned to the States in Dec. 1943.
He holds the DFC, Air Medal with 9 clusters, Purple Heart
and Presidential unit citation. He completed his WWII service at
Hobbs, NM. Remained on active reserve until 1967 and retired at the
rank of Colonel.
Crew list:
P: Victor F. Grubbs
CP: Wayne D. Cherrington
N: James J. Flathers
ENG: R. Roberts
RO: Theodore J. Kokinos
GNR: Ambrosio Chavez, Jr.
GNR: William A. Kickel
GNR: John J. Black
GNR: Thomas B. Burchers
Source: 301st BG historian and John McCarthy (son)
Crew list:
P: 1LT Erwin F. Schmidt O-828245
KIA
CP: 2LT William Dalton
N: 2LT Cletus R. Brown O-2071529 KIA
B: F/O Marcus H. McCrery T-127848 KIA
EM: S/S Charles A. Ollman 36749506 KIA
EM: Sgt Ray E. Wold 37582131 KIA
EM: S/S Robert R. Deignan 16107054 KIA
EM: Sgt Richard P. Fischer 35234101 KIA
TG: S/S Edward Bartley Jr. - RTD
KIA when his plane was shot down on 30 May 1944 during a mission to Dessau (MACR
5355). The entire crew was presumed MIA/KIA. They were hit by flak after
leaving the target and lost aileron control and two engines. German
fighters swarmed them.
Crew list:
P: 1LT Zach C. Collier
CP: 2LT John T. Kelleher
N: 2LT William P. Clements
B: 2LT Harry J. McDermott, Jr.
T/Sgt. Harry L. Ward
S/Sgt. Tommy Cogdill
T/Sgt. Stephen Kogut
S/Sgt. George R. Zirnheld
S/Sgt. Charles J. Semon
McDonald
2LT
O-674698
Doyle
nmi
MI 43-04
728
452
On 23 March 1944, aircraft hit by enemy aircraft over
Hannover, a hole in the wing and the #2 engine shook off. The bomb-bay was
on fire. It had 105 fragmentation bombs in it . All Crewmembers bailed out
safely. Entire crew captured by Germans. Officers werer sent to Stalag Luft
III. Enlisted soldiers were sent to Stalug Luft VI, with the exception of
John Zerkle, who was wounded and sent to Stalag Luft I.
Interned in Dubendorf, Switzerland when 41-28711
Little Sheppard failed to return due to flak on 21 July 1944. MACR
7251.
Target: Jet Propulsion Factory; Munich GER.
Low clouds hampered the entire mission. Dropped bomb loads at 1036 from an
altitude of 25,000 feet, but overshot the intended target due to massive
flak barrages and the heavy cloud cover.
B-24H-10-DT, #41-28711 is reported to have returned from Swiss internment
18 OCT 45.
Crew list:
P: 2LT James F. Beaver
CP: LT Henry M. Vanderstek
N: 2LT Glenn R. Mack
B: LT Robert W. McDonough
TT: T/S Ellis W. Register
RO: T/S Frank Fatico
BT: S/S Jack Yeoman
LW: S/S John M. Garrity
RW: S/S Spencer B. Lisenby
TG: S/S Roland F. Alling
McDougal
O-2070294
Ralph
H
BZ 44-12
320
Source: Chris McBride: chrismc@peak.org
McDowell
2LT
C
R
KT 42-08
417
25
Source: Book, Wings over the Canal.
McFarland
Edward
J
BZ 43-12
459
MACR # 6591. He was shot down 7 July 19444 with Lt. Ed
Murphy flying pilot. AC was 42-52413 POW Stalag 17.
Photo.
2nd left back row is Ed Murphy. Third from left is Harold Kollenberg, the
Navigator and the right may be Charles Webb.
In front row on the left end is George Truet.
Crew list:
P: LT Edward J. Murphy
CP: Charlie Webb
N: Tom Coates
B: Edward J. McFarland
BT: George Treut
NT: A. B. Morara
Info from MACR 1557 and the wife of one
of the surviving crewmembers.
20 Dec 43 : Bremen, Germany
McGonagle's aircraft 42-31305 was downed by enemy aircraft shortly after
making it's bomb-run over Bremen. The aircraft came down in
Osterholz-Scharmbeck just north of the target. The MACR states the aircraft
went down with 2 engines on fire and that 2 parachutes were seen to leave
the airplane.
Crew consisted of:
P: 2LT William P. Kelley, Jr. O-798653
CP: 2LT Neal A. Compa, O-801545
N: 2 Thomas R. Vollbrecht, O-688141
RO: T/S Howard w. Ballard, 35 371053
TT: T/S Fred (NMI) Brann, 32 284335
BT: S/S Richard C. Hamilton, 15 083865
TG: S/S Felix J. Stockunas, 33 368019
RW: S/S William H. Nowels, 17 071395
LW: S/S David C. Turpin, 35 210467
Stockunas and Ballard made it out, spent rest of war as POW Stalag xv11B,
Kremms, Austria. Turpin must have made it out also, because he died of
wounds in German hospital about one month after crash. All other went down
with plane.
All KIA's were burried in Garrison Cemetary in Bremerhaven, Germany. McGonigle's
remains were returned to the US in 1949, and is buried in his hometown of
Medford, Massachusetts.
POW on 1 July 1944 near Arlon, BEL on B-17G-10-BO
42-31234 Target was Ludwigshafen, GER.
Crew list:
P: 1LT Joseph Barber POW
CP: MAJ Leon W. Blythe POW
N: LT John V. McGrath POW
B: LT Robert A. Gerth KIA
TT: T/S Francis C. Mancuso, POW
RO: T/S Michael R. McDonald POW
BT: S/S Edward O. McCarty POW
LW: S/S Martin B. Perkins KIA
RW: S/S Stanley J. Maclolek KIA
TG: 2LT Paul A. Marriott POW
42-51285 was a B-24 J-1, Go-Ta-Ha-It. It was lost on
22 November 1944 near Winnebach, It.
The mission for this day was to a target in Germany, but due to adverse
weather the 1st alternate target, the Salzburg, Austria marshalling yard was
hit. Six aircraft returned to our base with flak holes and one crew member
received a slight flak wound in the left eye. One aircraft was missing and
believed to have gone to Yugoslavia. The missing aircraft was 42-51285
flown by the Dave Gross crew of the 760th squadron. The Missing Air Crew
Report for this crew is 9957.
Over the target the aircraft was hit by flak, and just after the rally from
the target it was seen leaving the formation with the #1 engine feathered
and #3 was smoking badly. The crew did not make it to Yugoslavia as first
believed. With the exception of two crew members, they bailed out and most
landed near the village of Winnebach, IT. The plane struck near the top of
a nearly vertical mountain wall, and then fell to a small stream in the
valley below. This stream ran blue/green for weeks due to the leakage of
fluids from the aircraft remains.
Crew list:
P: David B. Gross POW. Dave became an attorney in Jackson, MS after
the war.
CP: Virgil O. Hall POW
N: Charles D. Ikle POW
B: James D. McGrath POW
ENG: Donald J. Perdzock POW
RO: Vincent M. King POW GNR: Joseph R. Betine POW GNR: Jerome Resler KIA
He was badly wounded and unable to bail out. He was taken to the Reserve
Hospital in Lienz, Austria for treatment of a lacerated bladder, resulting
in peritonitis. He refused to give any information about himself. He died
on 2 Dec 1944 and was buried in the Warrior's Cemetery at Lienz.
BT: Alvin M. Schleman KIA.
Prior to bail out Schleman was removed from the ball turret, one leg was
almost completely shot off, he went down with the plane. Al was buried
along the steam by the Luftwaffe troops who found his remains. Later they
were removed by American forces.
GNR: Kenneth M. Davidson POW
Sparky and Betty Bohnstedt
460th Bomb Group Historians
One of the rare enlisted men rated as a bombardier. On
28 July 1942 on a mission to Kassel, GER he was shot down over Wageningen,
Holland. Captured and spent the war in Stalag 7A and 17B.
Crew list:
P: 2LT Howard W. Keller
CP: 2LT Joeseph Funston
N: 2LT Guy C. Jennings
B: 2LT Benjamin P. McManus
ENG: S/S Jack B. Sittler
GNR: Sgt B. L. Smith
RO: S/S Frank J. Visone
GNR: Sgt Canuto B. Vargas
BT: Sgt Sheldon Brieloff
TG: Sgt Edward A. Pasierb
The crew was reassigned to the 729th
Bomb Squadron, 452d Bomb Group on 1 December 1944 where they were a lead
crew.
Crew completed their missions and all had rotated back to the states by
April 1945.
Crew list:
P: 2LT C R Hitchcock
CP: 2LT L E Pearson
N: 2LT W L Prudan
B: 2L R L McMurtrey
RO: T/S W M Foote
TT: T/S F Gambolati
BT: S/S A R Bowers
TG: S/S V G Borger
WG: S/S J McKittrick
WG: S/S R J Trainer
OB: 2LT W C Gammon
McNeil
2LT
John
D
???
337
96
On 10/1743, Rum Boogie caught fire off Cromer, ENG and
crashed in the sea. A/C # 42-30365 MACR: 1019
McNeil
R
C
CL 43-08
496
344
On 23 Sep 1944 B-26 42-107619 was lost over the Netherlands.
MACR is 9734. Target was Venlo Marshalling Yards. Three planes of 36 were
lost due to enemy action (FLAK is mentioned as cause for all three
Marauders).
Crew list:
P: 1LT J. B. Hegg
CP: Capt. William Reitz
B: 2LT R.E. McNeil
ENG-GNR: S/S B.J. Liptak
RO: T/S T.G. Wilcox
TG: Pvt. O.M. Riggs
McNeil
William
H
VV 42-15
343
98
KIA 1 Aug 1943.
Source: Arthur Plouff - A.plouff@worldnet.att.net
McNaney
2LT
John
A
MI 43-11
752
458
Crew list
from a 30 Dec 1943 movement order:
P: 1LT Odis F Taylor 0-681483
CP: F/O Norman L Lakey T-61282
N: 2LT William H Raupp 0-810912
B: 2LT John A McNaney 0-688376
ENG: Sgt Russell C Kuhnau 37317579
RO: Sgt Glenn D Carlson 14142593
NG: Sgt Carl G Larson 36419320
TT: Sgt Charles R Graham 39036518
BT: Sgt Edwin L Wildes 15074927
TG: Sgt Ervin H Busby 38319119
Crew list: (all KIA)
P: Harry A. Stirwalt
CP: Alan W. Wilder
N: Walter J. Thimm
B: Robert L. McNutt, Jr.
RO: Robert F. Forest
TT: Walter P. Drotleff
BT: Charles J. Benson
RW: Odes W. Boyd
LW: Angelo Triches, Jr.
TG: Donald V. Scavotto
OB: GEN Nathan B. Forrest III
The records show that
the formation of bombers was flying a new "flat" (as opposed to the "box")
formation, designed by Gen. Forrest, who was shortly to take over the 4th
Wing including the 95th Bomb Group. Also, they were using a “new” oil on the
guns that the Gen. had ordered them to use. It was not supposed to freeze in
the cold at high altitudes.
The German fighters had a field day with the "flat" formation, as the
bombers couldn't clear the other planes to fire back and protect the
formation. It was
never flown again. Only 60% of the guns would fire as the oil froze in the
cold.
He was flying as mission commander in the lead plane. After being hit before
the bomb run they were still able to drop their bombs. The fighters returned
and shot out the nose killing the navigator and bombardier. The aircraft
dropped out of the formation and 8 parachutes out of the 12 aboard were
seen.
The general’s body was found on the German island of Reugen on Sept. 23,
1943 and buried there. It was later removed to Arlington National Cemetery.
This mission was the worst loss the 95th Bomb Group suffered, with eleven
B-17s and ten crews being lost.
Crew list:
P: Richard P. Harman
CP: Claude Bridges
N: Morris Berenson
TTE: John R. Bianca
RO: Lucius C. Birbeck
GNR: Sylvester Stanley, Jr.
GNR: Leslie E. Cain
GNR: Sheldon Burstein
GNR: Stewart E. Taylor
On the return flight from Berlin (19 May 1944) the aircraft
(Roger's Raiders) had three engines knocked out by enemy aircraft. Rogers
ditched in the North Sea (5448N and 0730E) at 1625 hours British Summer
Time. At initial impact the tail broke away, the second impact resulted in
water entering the waist door and camera well, slightly injuring two
crewmembers. All emergency equipment was lost, but an airborne lifeboat was
dropped and the crew had no trouble getting underway. They were transferred
to a high speed British launch.
P: 2LT Julian P. Rogers
CP: 2LT Robert B. Lawler
N: 2LT Bertram C. Liberman
TTE: S/S Dickie Kendall
GO: S/S Thomas S. Guralski
BT: Sgt Russel E. Gately, Jr
WG: Sgt Carroll W. Brooks
WG: Sgt Clarence F. Cherry
TG: Sgt Alfonse R. Fiore
Mead
Leroy
W
BZ 43-16
KIA 8 June 1944
Mease
M/Sgt
David
D
LA ENBMB
343
98
Source: Arthur Plouff - A.plouff@worldnet.att.net
Mechling
O-757897
Robert
P
RS 43-15
From PA.
Meeker
1LT
James
W
KT 43-17
867
494
Died 7 Aug 1987.
Meersman
O-749822
Thomas
J
RS 43-10
369
306
Became a POW when his plane 43-37693, went
down on 16 Aug 1944 due to flak and crashed at Obermolbitz, ?. MACR:
7900
Crew list:
P: 1LT Eldon L. Ralstin O-814552 KIA
CP: 2LT William H. Goetz O-818679 POW
N: LT Richard T. Locke grad nav school: SL 44-01 POW
B: LT Thomas J. Meersman POW
TT: T/S William M. Howard POW
RO: T/S Robert F. Behnke POW
BT: S/S Samuel Simonian POW
RW: S/S Gerald W. Wrightsman POW
TG: S/S Fred Lloyd POW
From a conversation with Locke: Eldon(Ralstin) told the crew and Locke in
particular "I'll hold it, you get out." Locke believes he looked back and
fire was engulfing the cockpit and believes that Eldon heroically knew he
couldn't get out BUT made sure the others could.
Oh, on a lighter note: Locke and Eldon shared a bike at their base in
England and Stretch would ride on the handlebars while the shorter Locke
would pedal..Word is that it made a funny spectacle!
Crew list:
P: 2LT John D. Crouchley, Jr - Providence, RI
CP: 2LT William J. Hays - Mansfield, GA
N: 2LT Forrest J. Leveille
B: 2LT Allen G. Meister, Jr.
NG: S/S Eugene A. LaScotte - Minnesota
GNR: S/S Donald R. Turner - Frankford, MO
BT: S/S Edward G. Johnson - Delight, AR
WG: S/S. Ralph F. Perillo - Wakefield, MA
RO: S/S William J. Van Meer - Beloit, KS
TG: Sgt. Thomas A. Langstaff - Drexel Hill, PA
Combat crew was stationed in India. Flew
B-24s. Original crew was split up & Meredith flew as floating bombardier.
He was on the first mission (2/13/45) to succeed in knocking down spans of
the steel bridge on the Kwai in Thailand. (This was the later mislabeled &
fictional "Bridge over the River Kwai.") He survived a B-24 ditching by
bailing out 3/24/45. For more on the ditching, go to
www.pacificwrecks.com/people/mia/missing > 10th Air Force > B-24
44-49607.
Became a POW on 6 May 1944 when AC 41-29318 Heaven Can
Wait was shot down. Target was Campina, ROM
Crew list:
P: 2LT Leland L. Sears POW
CP: 2LT Alfred H. Johnson KIA
N: 2LT Gordon S. Landis POW
B: 2LT Franklin W. Merrill POW
TTE: T/S George Skrba POW
GNR: Sgt William C. Ward KIA
GNR: Sgt Robert R. Jennings KIA
RO: Sgt Dayton C. Volz KIA
GNR: S/S Harry B. Mohring KIA
GNR: Sgt Elmer D. Speelman KIA
Merrill
2LT
Myron
S
DM 44-02
568
390
B-17G #43-38175 exploded and crashed near Warsaw, Poland on
September 18, 1944. It might have been shot down by Ltn. Günther Josten
3./JG51.
Crew list:
P: Francis E. Akins O-818998 KIA
CP: Forrest D. Shaw O-822827 KIA
N: Ely Berenson KIA
B: Myron S. Merrill KIA
TTE: Frank P. Decillis KIA
RO: T/S Marcus L. Shook POW
BT: S/S George A. MacPhee KIA
WG: Paul F. Haney KIA
TG: Walter P. Shimshock KIA was murdered by German soldiers after an
interrogation.
Passenger: James D. Christy POW
Completed 33 missions. Flew most or all on a plane
called Powerful Katrinka. Appears to have been a navigator
as well. Served in Korea and retired as a Major.
Merwin
Theodore
D
BZ 43-16
Died June 1991
Merz
1LT
Richard
W
KT 43-13
KIA May 1944
Source: Kymm
Boire:KyLiBOIRE@aol.com
Mesna
Leeland
A
VV 43-16
447
321
Metzger
Henry
L
MI 42-12
387
559
B-26B #41-31721, Cactus Jack
Crew list:
P: MAJ William T. Boren EVD
CP: 2LT Charles R. Esparza POW
N: 1LT Joseph J. Rosa POW
G: 1LT Henry L. Metzger POW
ENG: S/S James Beanan POW
RG: T/S John L. Connell EVD
GNR: S/S Francis W. Anderson POW
MACR #0614 : T/O Chipping Ongar, assigned P/T the airfield at Beauvais/Tille
was attacked at 0937hrs by 34 B-26s of the 37 dispatched.
Exploded on striking the ground about two miles north-west of the airfield
Beauvais/Tille, France. Crew had previously baled out after the left engine,
aileron and elevator controls had been shot out. 5 POW 2 EVD
Note : Maj Boren was CO of the 559th BS.
Meyer
O-757898
Charles
A
RS 43-15
388
From NJ.
Meyer
George
A
DE 43-09
VV 43-13
366
305
Became POW on 24 March 1944 while flying 42-31544. Two
possible crash sites: Winkel, GER and Ghent, BEL. The target for the mission
that day is listed as Frankfurt.
Crew list:
P: Harry Cornell
CP: Donald M. Eddy
N: Leo D. Hartman - KIA
B: George A. Meyer
TTE: Darwin A. Gidel
RO: Robert Sage
BT: Peter Wolak
RW: Darius A Logan
LW John D. Kettman
TG: Clelland E. Martinson
Eight were captured and one evaded. Darius A. Logan was
the one who managed to escape capture by the Germans. He tells his story in
the book:"The Straw Pile And The Eternal Flame".
From the daughter of Darwin Gidel had this to say:
"The mission to bomb over Frankfurt was to be the last for this crew.
They completed the run and then oil began pouring from the top of number one
engine. It had to be shut down. In just a few moments the number two
engine began pouring oil in the same manner. They shut it down also to keep
from wind-milling. They threw out all that they could including getting rid
of the ball turret (not easily accomplished). A short while later the pilot
tried to re-feather engines one and two to no avail. Somewhere over central
Belgium their P 51 escort began running low on fuel and left them. Shortly
thereafter 5-5 FW 190's found them and pulled up close firing both machine
guns and twenty mill canons. Dad said they looked more like a sieve than an
airplane. On the German's last pass they pulled up level and lowered their
flaps to slow down so they could just unload on the B-17. that was when
Hartman was killed and my Dad was shot in the foot. He ended up losing the
entire leg. They bailed over Belgium and Dad was captured." - Claudia
He eventually was on the "Death March" in the winter of 1945. As told by
Claudia, Mr. Gidel was sent home by the Germans prior to the march, because
they felt that crippled soldiers wouldn't be returning to fight again.
Became a POW when shot down while flying in
B-17G Rita Ann on 13 Oct 1943.
Crew Photo. For more data on
this crew read the chapter, American Airman in Slovakia, in the book The
Young Ones by Erik Dyreborg.
Crew
list: all POW
P: 1Lt Jonathan K. Shafer, O-767669
CP: 2LT John W. Brinser, O-710439
N: 2LT Gordon C. Wheeler, O-2058051
ENG: S/S Arnold T. Wilson, 33694429
AE: S/S Guy R. Haines, 6931430
RO: S/S Theron A. Arnett, 17099131
BT: Eugene E. Yeargin, 16146859
WG: S/S Edwin J. Zavisa, 36863210
TG: S/S Joseph F. Williams, 31378889
Michelson
Errol
C
SA 43-05
326
92
Flew from Oct 1943 to March 1944.
Completed 35 missions and mostly flew on Sky Scrapper.
Crew list:
P: William Rose
CP: Frederick Maxwell
N: David Lewis
GNR: Keith Kent
GNR: Francis Cline
GNR: Walter Eilers
GNR: William Gurke
GNR: Frederick Gay
GNR: Reed Cornwell
Original crew list:
P: 2LT Elroy C. Lehmann 0813398
CP: 2LT Lee C. Heil 0762121
N: 2LT William J. Gast 0757868
TTE: S/S Joseph Sydor 33430732
RO: S/S James D. Kelley 17061838
GNR: Cpl Wayne L. Ruhge 37481206
GNR: Sgt Russell W. Baker 11089511
GNR: Sgt Darrell L. Garlick 38468621
GNR: Cpl Bennie (nmi) Koon 39325355
Mission crew list:
P: 2LT John A. Newton 0-758372 KIA
CP: 2LT Frank G. Mowatt 0-822776 KIA
N: 2LT George L Lange, Jr. 0-717228 KIA
TTE:T/S Leonard A. Turner 15042395 KIA
BT: S/S Albert W. Bricker 37676724 KIA
RO: T/S James A. O'Leary 36572040 POW
GNR: S/s John F. Hobgood 18076575 KIA
WG:S/S Jim S. Reeves 39562022 POW
Source: 303rd BG website
Miller
S/S
6913780
David
Hickam
825
5
484
Enlisted man bombardier. Eyewitness to the bombing of
Hickam Field on 7 Dec 1941. Also, was at Midway, New Hebrides,
Guadalcanal and New Guinea. After a stint in the states, it was off to
North Africa and Italy. WIA 6 June 1944 on raid to Ploesti, ROM.
POW on 4 Jan 1944. Stalag Luft 1 Plane
42-7487, named Million $$ Baby. MACR 1907.
Crew list:
P: 1LT John R. Becker, POW
CP: 2LT Willis H. Reddy, POW
N:1LT Leonard (nmi) Feller, POW
RO: T/S Slkedee D. Vovos, POW
TT: T/S Henry C. Patterson, Jr. , KIA
WG: S/S Arthur L. Williams, Jr., POW
WG: S/S Fred F. Deal, Jr KIA
BG: S/S Herbert J. Ross, KlA
TG: S/S Norman J. Schilter, KIA
POW on 22 Feb 1944 on mission to Oschersleben,
GER. Pilot was LT DeFrees. Plane 42-97488. MACR 2465.
Miller
2LT
O-724211
Ernest
A
KT 42-05
415
98
Miller
O-757901
Eugene
R
RS 43-15
563
389
From WI.
Miller
2LT
Gene
A
RS 43-12
576
392
KIA on 29 Apr 1944. Plane 42-100371.
MACR 4476.
Crew list:
P: 2LT William T. Kamenitsa, POW
CP: 2LT George E. Graham, Jr., POW
N: 2LT John J. Caulfield, KIA
ENG: S/S Edwin J. Heater, POW
BT: Sgt Archie B. Young, POW
R0: S/S Joseph R. Trivison, KIA
WG: Sgt Lark C. Morgan, POW
WG: Sgt Jack J. Krejci, POW
TG: Sgt Oliver A. Guillot, POW
Crew list:
AC: David C. Branch
P: Robert Spinti
N: James Keese
FE: Lawrence McBride
RO: Walter Mazur
GNR: John Hudson
GNR: Herbert Dunsmore
CFC: George Elias
RDR: Robert Colvin
TG: Jack Armstrong
Formations were effected without difficulty and the Wing proceeded to the
target as briefed. 12 a/c aborted before reaching the target, 11 for
mechanical reasons and one when an engine was shot out by a fighter attack.
Because of the large number of abortions and the fact that the formation had
suffered heavily from enemy fighter attacks on the route to the target, the
remaining planes tacked onto the 96th Group High and completed the mission.
It was anticipated that the bombing would be done by PFF methods but, as the
formation approached the target area, it was decided to bomb visually. On
the bomb run another Combat Wing crossed in front of ours, making our attack
impossible. It could be seen that our target, the Erkner Ball Bearing Works,
had already been successfully bombed. Seeing this when our bomb run was
disrupted, a target of opportunity was sought. A large factory at Wildau was
sighted and our bombs were dropped on it. The formation then returned to the
briefed course.
Very determined fighter opposition, lasting from 1300 to
1345 hours, was met enroute to the target. As was the case in the previous
mission, all enemy attacks were during a lapse of our escort. 30 to 50 e/a
mostly FW190's made these attacks mainly from the nose high in a trail of 10
to 12 a/c. These saturation tactics confused our gunners, as they knew not
which a/c to fire at. Since it was impossible to fire at all e/a attacking,
some would get through. All of our missing a/c were shot down on this series
of attacks. Flak was not particularly effective on this mission. Lt.
Batastas, bombardier on Lt. Sullivan's crew, was killed by a 20mm shell from
an enemy fighter. Sgts. Ramires and Wagstaff, waist gunners on Lt. Fisk's
crew, were wounded.
Lt. Pou in a/c 42-31214 "Return Engagement", was hit by fighters and the
crew bailed out near Hanover.
Crew list:
P: 2LT H. B. Pou POW
CP: 2LT R. A. Laubach POW
N: 2LT E. K. Luginbill KIA
B 2LT J. V. Milligan POW
TT: Sgt S. H. Jones POW
RO: S/S J. J. Kramer MIA
BT: Sgt. J. R. Becker KIA
RW: Sgt. W. N. Hoffman POW
LW: S/S C. A. Kmak POW
TG: Sgt. L. Sarap POW
Mills
2LT
O-736646
Donald
O
WM 43-02
413
96
Plane 42-3439 crashed in de Bilt, HOL on 20
Oct 1943. Mills was the one member of the crew who successfully evaded
capture and was able to get all the way to Gibralter and back to England by
Christmas.
Photo.
Front L to R: Geyer, Surdez, Mills, Doherty
Back L to R: Unk, Guilianelli, Killarney, Unk, Unk, Unk
Crew list:
P: Charles Geyer/Gerber, Jr. - POW
CP: 2LT Robert P. Surdez, Jr. - POW
N: William J. Doherty - Evaded, then POW
TTE: S/S Frank J. Killarney - POW
RO: Aaron M. Becker - KIA
BT: Ed L. Lantron - KIA
RWG: Charles R. Randal - KIA
LWG: Alex J. Guilianelli - KIA
TG: James A. Parker - KIA
42-31181 on 30 Jan 1944 when it failed to return due to
German fighters and crashed at Wolfenbuettel, GER. MACR 2266
Crew list:
P: 2LT Robert I. Lojinger
CP: 2LT James D. Campbell
N: 2LT Frederick W. Freitag
B: 2LT Bernard L. Mistrater
TT: S/S Edward J. Jacobs
RO: T/S James J. Klootwyk
BT: S/S Sherman E. Emmons
LW: S/S Harry H. Kleest
RW: S/S William A. Krebs
TG: S/S Harold D. Hill
Became a POW when his B-17 # 44-6019 crashed
on 12 June 1944 near Kallo, BEL. MACR is 5627. From PA.
Crew list:
P: 2LT Edward J. Magner POW
CP: 2LT Robert A. Dodson POW
N: 2LT Paul Q. Chapman POW
B: 2LT Robert H. Monaghan POW
TT: Sgt Laurence A. Snifka KIA
RO: Sgt George K. Egelston POW
BT: Sgt John H. Siedlicki KIA
RW: Sgt Elvin L. Sexton POW
TG: Sgt Joseph A. Stuart KIA
Member of F. D. Hodges crew on Exterminator.
On 29 July 1943 near Lathen and under fighter attack the aircraft
exploded. Plane was 42-30150. Entire crew KIA.
Moody, Jr.
O-757905
James
C
RS 43-15
From TX.
Mooradian
FO
Ara
nmi
VV 44-48
883
500
After the war was promoted to Captain.
He was shot down over North Korea on 23 Oct 1951.
Shot down on 30 April 1944 near Bologna, IT. Plane #
42-32014
Crew list:
P: 1LT Harold Klein POW
CP: Symonds fate unknown
N: 2LT Frederick Leiby POW
B: 1LT John L. Moore, Jr. POW
E: T/S. Jack D. Patzke died as POW
RO: T/S Paul G. Martin POW
BT: S/S Joseph F. McGettigan POW
RW: John P. Michael POW
LW: S/S Jack Timpanero POW
TG: S/S Carl F. Kouse POW
UNK: Sgt. Samuel S. Luera POW
Moorhead
CAPT
John
D
MI 42-13
867
494
Died 19 Sept 1999.
Moppert, Jr.
Edward
J
BZ 44-07
He was a B24 bombardier, based in Italy, a Pow in Stalag Luft
1.
Moran
1LT
O-741674
Roger
T
RS 43-05
773
463
Flew 34 missions out of Foggia, IT Shot down
on mission to Budapest, Hungary on June 27, 1944.
MACR - 6414 Photo.
POW: Stalag Luft 3 - Sagan-Silesia Bavaria
Member of crew on # 42-97536, Miss Behaven.
Crew List:
P:
1LT Frank D. East O-805416
CP: F/O Dearle H. Sampson T-122814
N:
1LT James W. Anderson O-757444
RO:
T/S John F. Erickson 16156724
BT:
S/S Richard D. Lawrence 38393938
RW:
S/S Clifford D. Buckley 13134814 (evaded/returned)
LW:
S/S Thomas R. Parrington 16002483
TT:
T/S Charles W. Reuter 15319094
TG:
S/S Herbert N. Richardson 39694980
Source: Bill Moran - bill.moran459@att.net
Morgan
Edward
F
BZ 43-10
390
570
A/c #42-30334 was involved in a mid air
collision over Frankfurt GER on 29 January 1944, then shot down and crashed
in Lake Constance. POW at Stalag Luft 1. Recalled to service 1950
radar bombing trained b-25, b29, etc. Taipei base commander.
Retired LT COL 1980's.
The unit was scheduled to be shipped out when
he was killed in a training accident on 17 Feb 1943. His B-17 F exploded in
mid air somewhere near Grand Rapids, the explosion made the paper but that
was about it.
Morris
Joseph
nmi
MI 43-04
KT 43-06
569
390
POW on 8 May 1944 when his plane Belle of
the Brawl, 42-31603, failed to return to return due to flak and crashed
at Brueville, ?. MACR 4583.
Crew list:
P: LT Otis C. Miller KIA
CP: LT Benjamin R. Chaneles KIA
TT: T/S Paul G. Vlahos POW
RO: T/S Joseph Gonos KIA
BT: S/S Claude J. Zanni KIA
LW: S/S Darryl J. Grady KIA
RW: S/S Mario A. Santoriella KIA
TG: S/S John K. Hutson KIA
Crew list:
P: 2LT Samuel E. Rosser, O-753248
CP: 2LT John R. Helms, O-814897
N: 2LT Earl D Metko, O-702950
RO: T/S Ollice Z Rowe, 34680478
ENG: S/S James M O'Leary, 32607628
GNR: Sgt William D. Foster, 37242029
GNR: Sgt Robert H. Pressentin, 36211938
GNR: Norman W. Putney, 17154936
GNR: Sgt Jack O. Severson, 19078456
Morse
Sydney
nmi
SA 43-04
414
97
There is a very good account of his A/C being shot down in
The 97th Bombardment Group History Book Venit Hora
book as reported by his pilot, J.L. Brennan. The mission was to bomb a road
junction at Cecchina, Italy. There was heavy and intense flak with 19 A/C
receiving minor damage.
Crew list:
P: J. L. Brennan
CP: Shapiro
N: 1LT Everatt Anthony
B: 2LT Sidney Morse
TTE: T/S L.I. McKinley
RO: T/S F.A. Bealin
BT: S/S R.C. Hodges
RW: S/S T.P. Smith
LW: Sgt A.G. Dickie
TG: S/Sgt J.H. Kirkpatrick
Mortenson
2LT
Thomas
S
KT 42-16
527
379
B-17 17F75-BO 42-29892 FO-N
MACR: 1758
Shot down by fighters , broke up and crashed over a wide area at Neu
Arenburg, 4 miles north west of Friesoythe Germany at 09.10 hrs.
Crew list:
P:1LT Douglas K Groom KIA
CP: 2LT Franbk T Pulaski KIA
N: 2LT Arthur C Bellmyer POW
B: 2LT Thomas S Mortenson POW
E: S/S Howard H Brinkman POW
RO: T/S Thomas P Lyons KIA
BT: S/S James C Bowers POW
LW: S/S Ralph E Weaver POW
RW: S/S Thaddeus Z Burzycki KIA
TG: S/S Frank A Mills KIA
P: 1LT Richard W Glider
CP: 2LT Jean Henri Souffront
N: 2LT Ponce B Wilson
B: 2LT Fred E Morton
ENG: Sgt William F De Elmo
RO: S/S Don S Differding
GNR: Sgt Regis B Funk
RO: Sgt Delmas Morrison
GNR: Richard M Gaither
GNR: Leroy R Ogline
Morton
1LT
Robert
C
DE 43-04
62
39
Plane 42-65362, named Tian Long(Sky Dragon).
Crew P-52. Wounded 14 May 1945 on Nagoya mission. Died Sep 1983.
Mounts became a POW when
his plane, B-17 #43-37819 was shot down on a mission to Leipzip on 20 July
1944. MACR #7284
From The Ragged
Irregulars of Bassingbourn: The 91st Bombardment Group in World War II,
by Marion H. Havelaar. Schiffer Military History, 1995, page 139.
“The Fortress flown by
Lt. Charles T. Walby was hit by 20mm in the right wing root. Fire broke out
in the wing and the aircraft pulled out of formation. Lt. Walby and the
radio operator were killed. The rest of the crew survived as prisoners of
war.”
Crew list:
P: 1LT Charles T. Walby, O-677617 KIA
CP: 1LT Max E. Bender, O-687283 POW
N: 2LT James W. Dye, Jr., O-709316 POW
RO: S/S Ernest C. Keene, Jr., 18140162 KIA
TT: T/S Norman W. Ingram, 17166510 POW
GNR: S/S Fred A. Cascone, 31281320 POW
BT: S/S Byron E. Burgin, 14010848 POW
WG: S/S Karl P. Dziadula, 36317597 POW
Took part in the Halyard Mission. 10 Aug
1944, evacuated more than 250 American airman from the Belgrade area.
The operation, involving aircraft loading and taking off every five minutes
was under the command of Captain George S. Musulin. (CH 6/94) See
photo.
KIA on 13 April 1945 when B29-#42-24644. The right wing
and a petrol tank were pierced by a Nick night fighter flown by Captain
Toshio Sasa and it fell into the rice field. Target was the Tokyo army
factory.
Crew list:
P: CAPT Will F. Latimer, Jr. 0-431457 KIA
CP: 1LT Obie Jenkins 0-806074 KIA
N: 2LT Charles A. Lundegall 0-698482 KIA
B: 1LT Ralph X. Muhlebeck 0-739489 KIA
ENG: 1LT Neal A. Sherdan 0-864621 KIA
RO: S/S Chester A. Johnson, Jr. 38415508 DNB
RDR: S/S Irvin C. Elingston 39271130 KIA
CFC: T/S Louis T. Vance 35728624 POW-RTD
RW: S/S John W. Welsh 36877951 DNB
LW: S/S William W. Sutherland, Jr. 18190973 DNB
TG: S/S Walter E. Walk 37433718 DNB
Johnson, Sutherland, Welsh, and Walk were restrained at the crash spot
neighborhood. Later they were seen in eastern part military-police
headquarters.
Elingston body was discovered on May 5, and was buried in the spot.
Walk died on May 1 of acute pneumonia in the military-police lockup, and he
was buried in the Koishikawa army cemetery.
Johnson, Welsh and Sutherland were imprisoned by the Tokyo military prison,
and died in the flames by the air raid on May 25.
Only the Vance technical staff sergeant restrained by the navy was seen off
in the Ofuna concentration camp, and went back after the war.
The five dead bodies were collected from crash wreckage by the local
criminal investigation in 1947.
Shot
down on 13 April 1945 on
B-29 44-69799 which crashed in Sanuma, Omiya Village, Inashika County,
Ibaragi Prefecture. 1 crewman was KIA and the other 11 POW's who all died
in the Tokyo Prison fire of 25 May 1945. The MACR is 14240.
Crew list:
AC: 1LT Alpheus Carle
CP: 2LT Andrew Litz
N: 2LT John Price
B: 2LT William Muhlenburg
R: 2LT George Kruse, Jr.
FE: T/S Jim Verhines
RO: S/S Lawrence Duffy
CFC: Cpl. Allen Morsch
RG: Cpl. Darwin Muller
LG: Cpl. Calvin R. Raymond
TG: Pfc Edwin Lund
Observer: LT. Col. Doyne Turner
Mullen
1LT
O-735335
Frank
H
RS 43-01
32
301
KIA on 25 Feb 1944 near Vilsbiburg while
flying on B17 42-31664. 6 crewmen KIA and 4 POW. MACR 2593.
P: 2LT David F. Paxton, O-680284 POW
Stalag Luft 1
CP: 2LT Joseph R. Baughman KIA
N: 2LT Joseph J. Chapas, O-747080 POW Stalag Luft 1
ENG: Joe ??? POW
RO: S/S Horace K. Greenwood KIA
BT: S/S Jack C. Frost KIA
WG: S/S Charles H. Alexander 34036654 KIA
TG: Tate KIA
PHOTO: O'Connor KIA
Entered the Service from: Montana
Died: April 20, 1944
Buried at: Plot A Row 12 Grave 31
Normandy American Cemetery
St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France
Awards: Purple Heart
Karen Cline: Entire crew was interned in Sweden starting on
5/29/44.
Murphy
C
C
KT
41-03
59
25
Source:
Book, Wings over the Canal.
Murphy
1LT
Francis
J
BZ 43-10
575
391
Evaded and returned on 8 Aug 1944. Hit by flak over Nantes,
FRA on 8 July 1944. Crashed 5 miles NE
of Chateaubriant (Coesmes, Ille and Vilaine).
Plane was B-26 42-95821 called Miss Take. MACR 6649.
Crew
list:
P: LT COL George E. Stalnaker EVD#874 back by 6 August 44
CP: 2LT Enge R. Squier EVD #904 Back by 9 August 44
N: CAPT Edgar G. Williams EVD #875 back by 6 August
44
1LT Francis J. Murphy EVD #877 back by 6 August 44
RO: 1LT Jim B. Clark EVD #876 back by 6 August 44
TTE: T/S Richard B. Smith EVD #878 back by 6 August
44
TG: S/S Stanley W. Miller EVD #879 back by 6 August 44
GNR: S/S Lloyd V. Alexander
Became
a POW on 24 May 1944 on a raid to Wiener-Neustadt, GER. The plane
was 42-52243 called Shamrock. MACR 5370.
Crew list:
P: George W. Foote KIA
CP: Quentin P. Madigan KIA
N: Alexander R. Nelson POW
ENG: James W. Gorrell KIA
GNR: Audrey H. Salyer POW
GNR: Ellwood Farmer POW
RO: Albert J. Yano POW
GNR: Walter G. Gates POW
GNR: Harry E. Lain KIA
Murphy
2LT
Michael
J
VV
44-06
866
494
Murray
E
J
BZ
43-08
DE 43-13
384
Shot
down on 25 Feb 1944 in plane Mr. Five by Five while on mission to
Stuttgart, GER. All crew members survived.
Crew list:
P: Jack Larsen
CP: W. F. Donovan
N: J. J. Fallow
TT: T/S K. F. Barnes
RO: T/S R. L. Cole
BT: S/S A. B. Haverlah
LW: S/S E. Simon
RW: S/S E. R. Holler
TG: S/S J. W. Moore
Murray
O-729480
Keith
W
VV 42-12
335
95
He was shot down on 6 Sep 1943 and successfully evaded to
Spain over the Pyrenees. He returned to Horham on 11 Nov 1943 and returned
to the States on or about 6 December 1943.
