44-40323 Sunshine Rose

B-24J-155-CO

A 493BG Original, squadron and letter unknown.

Any combat missions with the 493BG are not known to me.

Transferred to the 34BG between May 29th and June 6th 1944, assigned to the 391st Squadron as L/A.

MISSION LIST

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 44-40323 L/A (unused ground spare)

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 44-40323 L/A 391BS Bower (deputy lead)

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 44-40323 L/A (ground spare assigned to Foster –taken over by Salveson)

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 44-40323 L/A Salveson

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 44-40323 L/A 391BS Ray (lead)

June 17, 1944 44-40323 L/A Ray

Took off at 1537 hours on local flight.

No landing time shown.

Mission #19 June 20, 1944 44-40323 L/A 18BS Lindstrom

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 44-40323 L/A 391BS Ray (lead)

Mission #30 July 6, 1944 44-40323 L/N 391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose (deputy lead)

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 44-40323 L/N 391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 44-40323 L/N Richart Sunshine Rose (Airborne spare)

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 44-40323 L/N 7BS McAllister Sunshine Rose

Mission #41 July 24, 1944 44-40323 L/N 391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose

Mission #43 July 27, 1944 44-40323 L/C 18BS Lindstrom Sunshine Rose (lead)

Mission #45 July 28, 1944 44-40323 L/C 391BS Salveson Sunshine Rose

Mission #48 August 1, 1944 44-40323 L/C 391BS Richart Sunshine Rose

Mission #49 August 2, 1944 44-40323 L/C 391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose (deputy lead)

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 44-40323 L/C 391BS Ray Sunshine Rose

Mission #54 August 7, 1944 44-40323 L/C391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose

MISSION DETAILS

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 44-40323 L/A (ground spare)

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 44-40323 L/A 391BS Bower

Took off at 0421 hours.

Flew position 1-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 24 250 lb GP bombs. Brought back all bombs to base due to 10/10 cloud coverage of target.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1040 hours.

Bower (P)

Burton (Command Pilot) Capt

Pratt (CP)

Morrison (N)

Boyle (N2)

Lemen (B)

Barnes (R)

Bell (E)

Maccarini, I. (BG)

Bloom (TG)

Hartman (NG)

Ingrouille (G)

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 44-40323 L/A (ground spare assigned to Foster –taken over by Salveson)

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 44-40323 L/A Salveson (a ground spare taken over by Salveson)

Took off at 0623 hours.

Flew position 3-3 in Low Squadron.

Carried 24 250 lb bombs. Dropped 22 bombs on the Primary at 0916 hours from 21,000 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1129 hours.

Salveson (P)

Browne (CP)

Zukaitis (B)

Lehman (R)

Demko (E)

Quinter (BG)

Brave (TG)

Dubuque (NG)

Edwards (G)

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 44-40323 L/A 391BS Ray (lead)

Took off at 0315 hours.

Flew Lead of Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on secondary target at 0757 hours from 18,000 feet.

Slight battle damage reported.

Landed 0933 hours.

Ray (P)

Vinge (CP)

LeBailly (Command Pilot)

Wentz (N)

Stellmach (N2)

Hohnstreitter (B)

Johnson (R)

Jamber (E)

Grzeskowiak (BG)

Dodson (TG)

Welch (G)

June 17, 1944 44-40323 L/A Ray

Took off at 1537 hours on local flight.

No landing time shown.

Mission #19 June 20, 1944 44-40323 L/A 18BS Lindstrom

Took off at 1748 hours.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in Group B (18th)

Carried 52 100 lb GP bombs. Brought all bombs back to base. Could not sycronize.

No battle damage report.

Landed 2206 hours.

No Crew Loading List available.

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 44-40323 L/A 391BS Ray (lead)

Took off at 1449 hours from Hardstand #22.

Flew Lead of Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1915 hours from 20,100 feet.

Minor damage reported.

Landed 2152 hours.

Ray (P)

Vinge (CP)

Wackwitz (Command Pilot)

Wentz (N)

Stellmach (N2)

Hohnstreitter (B)

Johnson (R)

Jambor (E)

Grzeskowiak (BG)

Dodson (TG)

Welch (G)

Mission #30 July 6, 1944 44-40323 L/N 391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose (deputy lead)

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 44-40323 L/N 391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 44-40323 L/N Richart Sunshine Rose (Airborne spare)

July 17, 1944 44-40323 L/N Sunshine Rose Erwin

Took off at 1809 hours on a local flight.

Landed 2102 hours.

July 19, 1944 44-40323 L/N Sunshine Rose Bush

Took off at 1516 hours on a local flight.

No landing time shown.

July 20, 1944 44-40323 L/N Erwin Sunshine Rose

Took off at 0956 hours on a flight to Lympie.

Landed 1514 hours.

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 44-40323 L/N 7BS McAllister Sunshine Rose

Mission #41 July 24, 1944 44-40323 L/N 391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose

Mission #43 July 27, 1944 44-40323 L/C 18BS Lindstrom Sunshine Rose (lead)

Mission #45 July 28, 1944 44-40323 L/C 391BS Salveson Sunshine Rose

Mission #48 August 1, 1944 44-40323 L/C 391BS Richart Sunshine Rose

Mission #49 August 2, 1944 44-40323 L/C 391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose (deputy lead)

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 44-40323 L/C 391BS Ray Sunshine Rose

Mission #54 August 7, 1944 44-40323 L/C391BS Erwin Sunshine Rose

B-24J 44-40323 L/C Sunshine Rose Missing in Action Flak believed near Nanteuill. Received direct flak hit in the bomb bay. Plane pulled out of formation in a 45 degree glide. It leveled off at about 10,000 feet, made a 180 degree turn to the right and started to climb. Plane appeared to stall and entered another downward glide, seemingly still under control. One chute was positively seen and possibly another. Crashed at Malmmedy. Group Operations Officer, Col Eaton was lost in this plane flying as mission's Command Pilot. With 391BS. Pilot: Erwin. Missing Air Crew Report # 7877.

KIA ERWIN ELDON E (P)                                  CAPT         391      O-664385        FORT WORTH TX                      22

??? SCHOLLE JOHN R (CP)                               2 LT            391      O-817541                                                                23

KIA ALDER HERBERT P (N)                            2 LT            391      O-703918        CA                                                  18

POW JONES ROY O JR (B)                                2 LT            391      O-697775        AL                                                  14

POW LAMAR HORACE B (TT)                       T/SGT        391      34720250        PONTOTAC MS                          23

KIA O'LEARY JAMES A (R)                             T/SGT        391      11081665        MN                                                 21

POW BLAGRAVE HUBERT L (WG)                S/SGT         391      37199499        KANSAS CITY MO                    23

EVD BABCOCK LAWRENCE W (TG)             S/SGT         391      37507630        KANSAS CITY MO                    22

KIA WARNER LLOYD D (NG)                         S/SGT         391      36594122        DETROIT MI                                23

KIA EATON JOSEPH J L (Com P)                    LT COL      HQ      O-023265        AL                                                  8

POW ACKERMAN HARRY (GpN)                  MAJ           HQ      O-434658                                                                1

ALDER HERBERT G is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery.

EATON JOSEPH J JR is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery.

ERWIN ELDON E is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, B-13-31.

O’LEARY JAMES is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery.