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 96th Bomb Group, Snetterton

August 28, 1944 Transferred to 391st Squadron, 34th 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 34th 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