43-38423 unknown name MIA 12-31-44

B-17G-85-BO

August 1, 1944 to Cheyenne

August 12, 1944 to Kearney

August 22, 1944 to Grenier

August 27, 1944 Assigned to 96^th Bomb Group, Snetterton

August 28, 1944 Transferred to 391^st Squadron, 34^th Bomb Group, Mendlesham

Mission #66 September 22, 1944 43-38423 L/N (scheduled for Scharmen but replaced by a spare)

Mission #67 September 25, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Scharmen

Mission #69 September 27, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Scharmen (Major damage – S/Sgt George A. Dotson 38451345 (Gunner) KIA Hometown: AR

October 2, 1944 43-38423 L/N

On Marshalling Chart in Hanger #1 near the tower at 2100-2200 hours.

Mission #77 October 14, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Scharmen

Mission #78 October 15, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Scharmen       Aborted – mechanical – BT sick

Mission #79 October 17, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Scharmen

Mission #80 October 19, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Scharmen     Leaflets only

Mission #82 October 25, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Feldman        Major damage.

Mission #83 October 26, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Sheridan

Mission #84 October 28, 1944 43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

Mission #85 October 30, 1944 43-38423 L/N (scheduled for Feldman but replaced)

Mission #86 November 4, 1944 43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

Mission #87 November 5, 1944 43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

Mission #88 November 6, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Felker

Mission #89 November 9, 1944 43-38423 L/N 18BS Goss

Mission #91 November 21, 1944 43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

Mission #92 November 25, 1944 43-38423 L/N 7BS Mowers        Landed at Woodbridge

Mission #95 November 30, 1944 43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

Mission #96 December 4, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Sproul

Mission #97 December 5, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Friedel

Mission #98 December 6, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Sheridan

Mission #99 December 11, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Timblin

Mission #100 December 12, 1944 43-38423 L/N 18BS Jones

Mission #102 December 24, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Sproul

Mission #103 December 27, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Sproul

Mission #104 December 28, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Sproul      Jettisoned 4, brought back 2 due to mechanical problems

Mission #105 December 30, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Sproul

Mission #106 December 31, 1944 43-38423 L/N 391BS Sproul      MIA. See below.

Mission #106 December 31, 1944 B-17G 43-38423 L/N missing in Action Hamburg flak. Aircraft received a direct flak hit and left formation, jettisoning bombs, Number 1 & 2 props were feathered and #2 engine was on fire. Fire also observed coming from open bomb bay doors. Last seen in a left hand spiral at 10,000 feet. At least two men bailed out but no chutes seen. Crashed Tossener Dike, Holland? With391BS. Pilot: Sproul, Missing Air Crew Report # 11372. 3 Killed in Action. 6 Prisoner of War. See 34^th Bombardment Group (H) 1941-1945, p.45-46, where Fred LaMaster tells of this mission and his Prisoner of War experiences in a story called, “Shot Down.”

POW SPROUL C CRANFORD (P)    2 LT        391          O-825703                8

KIA FRYER AUSTIN F (CP)              2 LT        391          O-777519                8              TX

POW MARTIN REX H (N)                 2 LT        391          O-2064627              13            BURBANK CA

KIA FLANIGAN WILLIAM F (B)    2 LT        391          O-557155                15

POW SPENCE GUILFORD (E/TT)    SGT        391          92931847                8              FREWSBURG NY

KIA COLE LeROY H (R)                     SGT        391          14132291                8

POW KRYSTOF JOSEPH P (BT)       SGT        391          31379590                7

POW SIEMSEN ALAN D (WG)        SGT        391          38540767                7

POW LeMASTER FRED Y (TG)        SGT        391          34814455                7