34th Bomb Group Combat Mission Diary: NOVEMBER 1944 Missions #86-

compiled by Gary L. Ferrell

 

Missions as a B-17 Group in November 1944

 

November 4, 1944

Mission #86         Hamburg

Command Pilot: FREEMAN. 36 planes dispatched. 35 planes dropped 89 tons on the primary target and 1 failed to bomb. 36 Credit Sorties. Pathfinder bombing. Results unobserved. Cleveland Romero #8.

Planes and crew:

44-8237 H/I 18BS Ray (PFF)

43-38410 B/C 18BS Ralls

43-38326 B/U 18BS Pelszynski

43-38338 B/M 18BS Richardson, L.

43-38332 B/Q 18BS Kimmerle

43-38373 B/J 18BS Benedict

44-8321 B/F 18BS Harris

43-38331 B/Y 18BS Bouldin

44-8283 B/G 18BS Lerch

43-38304 B/L 18BS Hemingway

43-38138 B/I 18BS Goss Ole-Timer

43-38374 B/X 18BS Ratcliff

44-8356 H/C 7BS Blair (PFF)

43-38416 E/C 7BS Gibson

43-38286 E/T 7BS Zarfoss

43-38363 E/F 7BS Alleman

43-38419 E/E 7BS Mowers

44-8309 E/H 7BS Carter

44-6465 E/O 7BS Barbaras Fancy Nancy

43-38113 E/S 7BS Winsor Wee Willie's Wolves

44-6296 E/R 7BS Wright

43-38391 E/J  7BS Henderson

43-38367 E/L 7BS Ames      Aborted – mechanical.

44-8263 E/Y 7BS Finch

43-38386 E/K 7BS Austin

43-38380 L/B 391BS Johansen

43-38325 E/B 391BS Perry

43-38415 L/G 391BS Sheridan

43-38378 L/K 391BS Murphy

43-38343 L/I 391BS Friedel

44-8327 L/R 391BS Dunham

43-38299 L/U 391BS Anderson

44-8271 L/O 391BS Hammersley

43-38422 L/J 391BS Felker

43-38351 L/F 391BS Timblin

43-38222 L/H 391BS Day

43-38365 L/S 391BS Isaacs

43-38403 E/Z 391BS Vick

43-38292 B/A (unused ground spare – lead)

44-8156 H/V (unused ground spare – PFF)

43-38372 L/A (unused ground spare)

44-8320 E/G (unused ground spare)

43-38334 E/A (unused ground spare)

43-38382 L/Q Queenie (unused ground spare)

43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

 

November 5, 1944

Mission #87         Ludwigshaven

Command Pilot: FANDEL. 36 planes dispatched. 35 planes dropped 108 tons on the primary target and 1 planes failed to bomb. 36 Credit Sorties. One plane was lost to flak and 10 crewmen were listed as Missing in Action as well as 3 crewmen listed as wounded in action. Pathfinder bombing of the docks. Results: fair. (Cleveland Romero #9. 6 flak holes in wing and tail. “LT Alleman & crew shot down. Plane broke in half, leveled off at 8,000 ft. B confirmed 5 chutes. Plane got direct hit in tail over target. Very rough mission!”)

Plane and crew:

44-8237 H/I 7BS Israelson (PFF)        Major damage

43-38416 E/C 7BS Bush

43-38286 E/T 7BS Zarfoss

43-38391 E/J  7BS Henderson             Major damage

44-8320 E/G 7BS Mowers    Major damage

43-38331 B/Y 7BS Vick        Major damage. One wounded.

43-38363 E/F 7BS Alleman  Shot down – MIA. See below.

44-8263 E/Y 7BS Finch        Major damage

44-6296 E/R 7BS Winsor     Major damage

43-38419 E/E 7BS Ames

44-6465 E/O 7BS Barbaras Fancy Nancy  Major damage

43-38386 E/K 7BS Austin    Major damage

44-8356 H/C 391BS Heath (PFF)

43-38059 L/M 391BS Hanson

44-8327 L/R 391BS Dunham

43-38415 L/G 391BS Sheridan

43-38378 L/K 391BS Murphy

43-38406 L/W 391BS Baker                 Aborted – mechanical. Jettisoned bombs.

44-8271 L/O 391BS Hammersley

43-38372 L/A 391BS Day

43-38365 L/S 391BS Isaacs

43-38222 L/H 391BS Timblin

43-38422 L/J 391BS Ettlebrick

43-38343 L/I 391BS Felker

43-38382 L/Q 391BS Feldman Queenie

43-38409 B/B 18BS Lindstrom            Major damage

43-38410 B/C 18BS Gipson

44-8321 B/F 18BS Rainey

44-8283 B/G 18BS Bouldin

43-38332 B/Q 18BS Kimmerle             Bombed with another group.

44-8282 B/V 18BS Lerch

43-38374 B/X 18BS Ratcliff

43-38138 B/I 18BS Goss Ole-Timer      Major damage

43-38338 B/M 18BS Harris

43-38351 L/F 18BS Hemingway                          Major damage

43-38392 B/E 18BS Richardson, L.     One wounded.

43-38373 B/J 18BS Benedict

44-8309 E/H 18BS Carter

43-38380 L/B Simpson & Iverson      Weather and Monitor aircraft

43-38403 E/Z (scheduled for Vick but replaced)

43-38304 B/L (scheduled for Hemmingway but replaced)

43-38334 E/A (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38325 E/B (unused ground spare – lead)

44-8235 H/X (unused ground spare – PFF)

43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

43-38299 L/U (unused ground spare)

 

B-17G 43-38363 E/F Missing in Action Ludwigshaven, flak. Just after bombs away, this aircraft received a direct hit which destroyed the tail section. The plane went into a steep climb to the right, then into a flat spin. Then the aircraft went into a steep dive. Two chutes were reported. Crashed Ludwigshaven. With7BS. Pilot: Alleman. Missing Air Crew Report # 10303. 10 Killed in Action.

KIA ALLEMAN JAMES E (P)                           2 LT        7              O-760523                PORT ARTHUR TX            12

KIA STORY JOHN J JR (CP)                              2 LT        7              O-555834                                                                12

KIA ROWE CLIFFORD E (N)                            2 LT        7              O-557546                SHULLBURG WI                 12

KIA ROTTMAN JEROME B (B)                       2 LT        7              O-773450                MD                                         12

KIA BONACCI LOUIS JR (E/TT)                      S/SGT     7              32784657                BROOKLYN NY                   12

KIA BAST PAUL H (R)                                      S/SGT     7              37565328                MINNEAPOLIS MN            12

KIA CRAIG CURTISS G (BT)                            SGT        7              16138344                                                                12

KIA BRENT JOSEPH E JR (TG)                         SGT        7              14185237                                                                12

KIA RICHARDSON JASPER J (W)                  SGT        7              19117172                DECLO IN                             12

KIA LITSEY SHEPHERD G (Photographer)           T/SGT    391          18180011                SHERMAN TX                     17

 

LITSEY SHEPHERD G is buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, K-9-9.

ROTTMAN JEROME B is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, B-32-53.

 

Wounded men in 44-8160 and 44-8237 (don’t know which is which yet.)

WIA LANGENBURG JOHN A (R)                    T/SGT    4              16154735

WIA MARKHAM CLARENCE J (E/TT)         T/SGT    4              6659639

 

November 6, 1944

Mission #88         Neumunster

Command Pilot: NOTMAN. 13 planes dispatched. 13 planes dropped 30 tons on the primary target. 13 Credit Sorties.

Planes and crew:

43-38325 E/B 391BS Notman

43-38292 B/A 391BS Pelszynski

44-8327 L/R 391BS Dunham

43-38378 L/K 391BS Murphy

43-37864 L/E 391BS Sheridan

43-38372 L/A 391BS Baker, L.

44-8271 L/O 391BS Hammersley

43-38222 L/H 391BS Day

43-38365 L/S 391BS Isaacs

43-38422 L/J 391BS Ettlebrick

43-38343 L/I 391BS Feldman

43-38423 L/N 391BS Felker

43-38373 B/J 391BS Goss

43-38334 E/A (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38374 B/X (unused ground spare)

43-38326 B/U (unused ground spare)

43-38286 E/T (unused ground spare)

 

November 9, 1944

Mission #89         Metz area

Command Pilot: TAVASTI. 34 planes dispatched. 22 planes dropped 63 tons on the primary target and 12 (18BS) failed to bomb. 34 Credit Sorties. (Cleveland Romero #10. “Target was a heavily armed fort B big guns and 5,000 men. Dropped bombs 1 mile off to right of target. Scared hell out of enemy troops in fort.”)

Plane and crew:

44-8356 H/C 7BS Israelson (PFF)

43-38292 B/A 7BS Ralls

44-6465 E/O 7BS Davis Fancy Nancy

43-38403 E/Z 7BS Mowers

43-38286 E/T 7BS Zarfoss

43-38419 E/E 7BS Weaver

44-8309 E/H 7BS Carter

43-38367 E/L 7BS Ames

43-38386 E/K 7BS Finch

43-38113 E/S 7BS Winsor Wee Willie's Wolves

43-38280 E/M 7BS Alling

43-38338 B/M 7BS Peterson

44-8235 H/X 18BS Blair (PFF)

43-38410 B/C 18BS Dees

43-38373 B/J 18BS Kyser

43-38392 B/E 18BS Richardson

43-38332 B/Q 18BS Kimmerle

44-8321 B/F 18BS Ratcliff

43-38326 B/U 18BS Abrams

43-38304 B/L 18BS Bouldin

43-38374 B/X 18BS Mote

43-38423 L/N 18BS Goss

43-38382 L/Q 18BS Knowlton Queenie

44-8282 B/V 18BS Lerch

43-38380 L/B 391BS Notman

43-38372 L/A 391BS Hanson

43-38422 L/J 391BS Felker

43-38343 L/I 391BS Friedel

43-38378 L/K 391BS Murphy

43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman

44-8327 L/R 391BS Day

43-38365 L/S 391BS Isaacs

43-37864 L/E 391BS Baker

44-8271 L/O 391BS Hammersley

43-38415 L/G 391BS Anderson

43-38222 L/H 391BS Blum

43-38325 E/B (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38416 E/C (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38059 L/M (unused ground spare – lead)

44-8150 H/R (unused ground spare – PFF)

43-38299 L/U (unused ground spare)

 

November 16, 1944

Mission #90         Duren area

Command Pilot: LeBAILLY. 36 planes dispatched. 36 planes dropped 114 tons on the primary target. 36 Credit Sorties. This was a tactical mission coordinated with the ground troops. (Cleveland Romero #11. “Station 156 closed in on return, forced to land at RAF base in North England (Hutton). Stayed there 2 days, flew back at treetop level.”)

Planes and crew:

44-8356 H/C 18BS Heath (PFF)

44-8235 H/X 18BS Blair (PFF)

44-8321 B/F 18BS Rainey

43-38392 B/E 18BS Richardson

43-38373 B/J 18BS Benedict

43-38331 B/Y 18BS Kyser

43-38304 B/L 18BS Hemingway

43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin

44-8282 B/V 18BS Lerch

44-8283 B/G 18BS Harris

43-38374 B/X 18BS Mote

43-38338 B/M 18BS Peede

43-38380 L/B 391BS Notman

43-38410 B/C 391BS Ralls

43-38422 L/J 391BS Dunham

44-8327 L/R 391BS Friedel

43-38415 L/G 391BS Sheridan

43-38406 L/W 391BS Baker

43-38351 L/F 391BS Blum

43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman

43-38365 L/S 391BS Isaacs

44-8271 L/O 391BS Hammersley

43-38382 L/Q 391BS Bowen Queenie

43-38299 L/U 391BS Anderson

43-38378 L/K 391BS Timblin

43-38325 E/B 7BS Pelszynski

43-38416 E/C 7BS Bush

43-38113 E/S 7BS Winsor Wee Willie's Wolves

43-38280 E/M 7BS Henderson

43-38286 E/T 7BS Zarfoss

43-38386 E/K 7BS Austin

43-38334 E/A 7BS Sain

43-38367 E/L 7BS Ames

43-38403 E/Z 7BS Vick

44-8263 E/Y 7BS Finch

43-38419 E/E 7BS Weaver

44-8309 E/H 7BS Carter

44-6465 E/O 7BS Wright Fancy Nancy

43-38292 B/A (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38409 B/B (unused ground spare – lead)

44-8140 H/I (unused ground spare – PPF)

43-38332 B/Q (unused ground spare)

44-8320 E/G (unused ground spare)

 

November 21, 1944

Mission #91         Osnabruck

Command Pilot: CRABTREE. 36 planes dispatched. 31 planes dropped 92 tons on LR target. (target of last resort?) 5 planes failed to bomb. 36 Credit Sorties. 1 airman wounded in action. Pathfinder bombing. Results unobserved.

Planes and crew:

…….145 391BS Ray (PFF)

43-38059 L/M 391BS Hanson

43-38343 L/I 391BS Friedel

43-38378 L/K 391BS Murphy

43-38415 L/G 391BS Sheridan             (long delay fuses)

43-38222 L/H 391BS Isaacs

44-8271 L/O 391BS Hammersley        Aborted – mechanical.

43-38380 L/B 391BS Baker, L.             Major damage. TG wounded.

43-38422 L/J 391BS Felker

43-38402 L/P 391BS Bowen                Major damage. Pilot wounded.

43-37864 L/E 391BS Timblin               Aborted - #4 runaway prop.

44-8327 L/R 391BS Blum

44-8140 H/I 7BS Baker, W. B (PFF)

43-38416 E/C 7BS Bush

43-38280 E/M 7BS Alling

43-38367 E/L 7BS Ames

43-38386 E/K 7BS Mowers                 (long delay fuses)

44-6465 E/O 7BS Weaver Fancy Nancy

43-38419 E/E 7BS Peterson

43-38113 E/S 7BS Winsor Wee Willie's Wolves (incorrectly shown as 713)                    Major damage

43-38286 E/T 7BS Zarfoss

43-38403 E/Z 7BS Vick

43-38391 E/J  7BS Henderson

43-38334 E/A 7BS Davis

44-8320 E/G 7BS McLean                    Major damage

43-38292 B/A 18BS Hartley

43-38406 L/W 18BS Richardson, Z.

43-38338 B/M 18BS Goss

44-8321 B/F 18BS Kimmerle

43-38373 B/J 18BS Keyser

43-38326 B/U 18BS Ratcliff

44-8282 B/V 18BS Lerch

43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin

43-38304 B/L 18BS Jones, W.

44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams

43-38392 B/E 18BS Richardson, L.

43-38374 B/X 18BS Peede

43-38331 B/Y 18BS Knowlton            Major damage

44-8235 H/X (scheduled for Baker but replaced)

44-6296 E/R (scheduled for Mowers but replaced)

44-8263 E/Y (unused ground spare)

43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

44-8309 E/H (unused ground spare)

43-38325 E/B (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38409 B/B (unused ground spare – lead)

 

November 25, 1944

Mission #92         Merseburg

Command Pilot: CONLEY. 35 planes dispatched. 28 planes dropped 88 tons on the primary target while 7 failed to bomb. 29 Credit Sorties. Pathfinder bombing. Results unobserved.

Planes and crew:

44-8237 H/I 7BS Ray (PFF)

44-8147 H/S 7BS Bower (PFF)

43-38280 E/M 7BS Alling    Major damage

43-38403 E/Z 7BS Vick         Aborted - #1 engine.

43-38423 L/N 7BS Mowers Landed at Woodbridge

43-38367 E/L 7BS MacTaggart           Landed at Brussels; low fuel & one engine out

44-6465 E/O 7BS Barbaras Fancy Nancy

44-6296 E/R 7BS O’Grady   Aborted – Oxygen out

43-38334 E/A 7BS Davis     Landed at Brussels

43-38391 E/J  7BS Henderson

44-8263 E/Y 7BS Finch        Major damage

43-38386 E/K 7BS McLean

44-8112 H/D 18BS Heath (PFF)

43-38409 B/B 18BS Lindstrom            Aborted  - #1 engine out

43-38373 B/J 18BS Benedict

43-38332 B/Q 18BS Kimmerle

44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams  Leaflets only.

43-38331 B/Y 18BS Knowlton            Aborted - #2 engine out

43-38392 B/E 18BS Hemingway

44-8282 B/V 18BS Mote

44-8327 L/R 18BS Hofman

44-8321 B/F 18BS Rainey

43-38433 B/R 18BS Ratcliff Landed in Belgium

43-38222 L/H 18BS Harris   Aborted - mechanical

43-38415 L/G 18BS Jones

43-38406 L/W 391BS Johanson

43-38292 B/A 391BS Livingston        Aborted – runaway prop

43-38365 L/S 391BS Isaacs

43-38378 L/K 391BS Murphy

43-38422 L/J 391BS Ettlebrick             Major damage

43-38382 L/Q 391BS Sherman Queenie            Major damage

43-37864 L/E 391BS Felker

43-38343 L/I 391BS Friedel  Major damage

43-38351 L/F 391BS Day     Landed at Brussels. Lynch (BT) wounded. Busse (N) missing in Belgium.

43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman

43-38299 L/U 391BS Anderson

43-38372 L/A 391BS Daniels

44-8271 L/O 391BS Hammersley        Aborted - #2 engine failed; copper & parts of rings in the oil sump.

43-38325 E/B Gibson & Brunk            Weather and Monitor aircraft

43-38416 E/C  (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38410 B/C (unused ground spare – lead)

…….202 H/W (unused ground spare – PFF)

44-8176 H/Q (unused ground spare – PFF)

44-8309 E/H (unused ground spare)

43-38113 E/S Wee Willie's Wolves (unused ground spare)

 

B-17G 43-38351 L/F “Snake Bit” with the 391BS. Pilot: Day.  Aircraft was hit by flak on the bomb run. Lynch 

(BT) was WIA. Force landed at Coibais, Belgium. They ran out of gas and #3 supercharger was out and #4 was oversped. Crew returned as quickly as possible, except for Lynch (BT) and Busse (N) who hasn’t been seen since he took Lynch to the hospital. Plane was salvaged Dec. 1, 1944. 

RTD DAY GEORGE (P)

RTD HANCHAR JOE (CP)

??? BUSSE (N)      Missing in Belgium.

RTD BOWEN (B)

RTD VOSS (R)

RTD SPENCE (E)

WIA LYNCH (BT)               In Belgium hospital.

RTD GRIP (TG)

RTD SPINK (Gunner)

 

November 26, 1944

Mission #93         Bielefeld

Command Pilot: DEES. 13 planes dispatched. 13 planes dropped 35 tons on LR target. (Target of last resort?) 13 Credit Sorties. Pathfinder bombing. Results unobserved.

Planes and crew:

43-38325 E/B 18BS Dees     Did not drop. Door malfunction. Bombs eventually jettisoned.

43-38410 B/C 18BS Gipson

44-8321 B/F 18BS Rainey

43-38332 B/Q 18BS Kyser

43-38373 B/J 18BS Benedict

43-38403 E/Z 18BS Knowlton

43-38113 E/S 18BS Harris Wee Willie's Wolves

43-38392 B/E 18BS Richardson

43-38338 B/M 18BS Hofmann

44-6296 E/R 18BS Abrams

43-38415 L/G 18BS Nass

43-38286 E/T 18BS Peede

43-38378 L/K 18BS Jones

 

 

 

November 29, 1944

Mission #94         Hamm

Command Pilot: TAVASTI. 23 planes dispatched. 22 planes dropped 68 tons on the primary target and 1 plane failed to bomb. 22 Credit Sorties. Pathfinder bombing. Results unobserved. (Cleveland Romero #12. 2 flak holes in wing surface.)

Planes and crew:

44-8237 H/I 391BS Israelson (PFF)

43-38406 L/W 391BS Notman

43-37864 L/E 391BS Timblin

43-38422 L/J 391BS Ettlebrick

43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman

43-38372 L/A 391BS Daniels

43-38378 L/K 391BS Baker

43-38365 L/S 391BS Isaacs

43-38299 L/U 391BS Anderson

43-38343 L/I 391BS Friedel  Aborted – oil in #1 engine

43-38415 L/G 391BS Blum

43-38222 L/H 391BS Hansen

44-8235 H/X 7BS Blair (PFF)

43-38325 E/B 7BS Iverson

44-6296 E/R 7BS Zarfoss

43-38391 E/J  7BS Henderson             Major damage

43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers Major damage

43-38280 E/M 7BS Weaver Major damage – inst. panel shot out, #1 turbo out. Cook (CP) WIA in hand.

44-8263 E/Y 7BS Finch

43-38304 B/L 7BS Ames

44-8309 E/H 7BS Carter

43-38386 E/K 7BS Peterson

44-6465 E/O 7BS Barbaras Fancy Nancy Leaflets only.

43-38403 E/Z 7BS Vick

43-38113 E/S 7BS Sain Wee Willie's Wolves

43-38416 E/C (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38059 L/M (unused ground spare – lead)

44-8176 H/Q (unused ground spare – PFF)

43-38374 B/X (unused ground spare)

44-8327 L/R (unused ground spare)

43-38332 B/Q (unused ground spare)

43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)

 

KIA CURTIN LEO A                                           T/SGT    18            34706383                E OCEAN VIEW VA

NOTE: Leo Curtin was taken Prisoner of War on October 7, 1944 and apparently died as a POW.

 

November 30, 1944

Mission #95         Merseburg

Command Pilot: HERSHENOW. 36 planes dispatched. 31 planes dropped 82 tons on the target of last resort (LR). 5 planes failed to bomb. 35 Credit Sorties. One plane was lost and 9 crewmen were listed as Missing in Action. Also 1 crewmember was wounded and 1 killed in action. B-17G with Emery Rail's crew was feared lost, but got back two hours late.

Planes and crew:

44-8235 H/X 7BS Heath (PFF)

43-38416 E/C 7BS Richardson, Z.

44-6296 E/R 7BS Wright      Major damage

43-38419 E/E 7BS Ames      Bombs had long delay fuses

43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers Major damage

43-38113 E/S 7BS O’Grady Wee Willie's Wolves

44-8320 E/G 7BS MacTaggart

43-38403 E/Z 7BS Zarfoss

44-8309 E/H 7BS Peterson

44-6465 E/O 7BS Barbaras Fancy Nancy

44-8263 E/Y 7BS Finch

43-38386 E/K 7BS Austin

44-8176 H/Q 18BS Bower (PFF)

43-38410 B/C 18BS Ralls

44-8283 B/G 18BS Peede

43-38332 B/Q 18BS Kimmerle             Major damage

43-38392 B/E 18BS Richardson, L. S.                Major damage

43-38373 B/J 18BS Harris

43-38304 B/L 18BS Hemingway

43-38338 B/M 18BS Kyser

43-38374 B/X 18BS Mote    Major damage

43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin

44-8321 B/F 18BS Rainey

43-38326 B/U 18BS Ratcliff

44-8282 B/V 18BS Lerch

43-38059 L/M 391BS Hanson             MIA. See below.

43-38406 L/W 391BS Livingston       Major damage. Ostrowski (WG) KIA, One man WIA (doesn’t say who).

43-38422 L/J 391BS Blum                    Major damage

43-38378 L/K 391BS Friedel                Major damage

43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman              Major damage

44-8271 L/O 391BS Hammersley        Major damage

43-38372 L/A 391BS Daniels

43-38299 L/U 391BS Andersen          Bakita (B) WIA; flesh wound in left arm

44-8327 L/R 391BS Isaacs

43-37864 L/E 391BS Felker  Leaflets only

43-38382 L/Q 391BS Jones Queenie

43-38222 L/H 391BS Hansen, D. F.    Major damage. R.L. Wathey (N) injured.

43-38415 L/G 391BS Baker, L. A.

43-38292 B/A (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38325 E/B (unused ground spare – lead)

43-38409 B/B (unused ground spare – lead)

44-8440 H/Y (unused ground spare – PFF)

44-8252 H/J (unused ground spare – PFF)

43-38331 B/Y (unused ground spare)

43-38423 L/N (unused ground spare)

43-38365 L/S (unused ground spare)

 

B-17G 43-38059 L/M Missing in Action Merseburg flak. Received direct flak hit in #1 engine just after bombs away. The aircraft violently slid under the formation losing 2-3000 feet altitude. Engine caught fire and the prop was reported later as windmilling. About five minutes after being hit the engine blew up and tore off the wing sending the plane into a dive straight down. Five to nine chutes reported. Crashed Sommerda, Germany. With 391BS. Pilot: Oscar T. Hanson. Missing Air Crew Report # 10841. 1 Evaded, 4 Killed, 4 Prisoner of War.

KIA HANSON OSCAR T (P)                             CAPT     391          O-1699379              BEMIDJI MN                        24

KIA KEIRN ROY C (CP)                                     1 LT        391          O-1169594              McKEESPORT PA               26

POW TOPPING DONALD G (N)                       1 LT        391          O-703344                ST LOUIS MO                      22

POW LIPSCOMB LINDSEY L (B)                     1 LT        391          O-696233                CONROE TX                         22

EVD SHULL PAUL L (E/TT)                              T/SGT    391          17059208                KANSAS CITY MO            24

KIA SIMPSON GEORGE H  (R)                         T/SGT    391          35252969                WABASH IN                        27

KIA LAYTON LAWRENCE D (BT)                 S/SGT     391          14147329                ATLANTA GA                    20

POW BURTON JOE N (TG)                               S/SGT     391          34687605                ATHENS GA                        24

POW BROWN SIDNEY C (WG)                        S/SGT     391          31313627                                                                23

 

KEIRN ROY C is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery, A-14-23.

 

On 43-38406 L/W Piloted by Livingston

KIA OSTROWSKI EDWARD (WG)                S/SGT     391          35752987                WV

 

OSTROWSKI EDWARD is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, D-5-48.

 

 

Evidently one of the lead planes in another formation, supplied by the 4BS.

B-17G 44-8147 H/S Battle damaged at Merseburg and force landed on the Continent. With 4BS. Pilot:

unknown. Plane salvaged December 13, 1944.

WIA POTTS EDWARD E (N)                           1 LT        490BG     O-700063

WIA BURROWS BENNIE W (B)                      1 LT        490BG     O-698513

 

Note: Both of these officers were on temporary duty with the 4BS at the time.