B-17G    42-38136    615th

6 March 1944   Mission # 32   Target: Berlin , Templin


                  6 march 1944 , 07:45 , engines are on.
                  24 operational aircraft took off by 08:39, mission 32 , Target Ball bearing Works , Berlin , Templin

                  The 401st formed the lead box of the 94th Combat Wing. Several aircraft aborted, and several more returned early                   because of mechanical difficulties. The primary target was Erkner, outside Berlin, but because of bad weather the Group
                  bombed Templin, northeast of Berlin. Numerous enemy attacks by from 60 to 150 enemy aircraft occurred from the target
                  area all the way home.
                  Lt. Claude M. Kolb and his crew, flying 42-38136, were lost in action.

Missing Air Crew Report : 2743

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 615th.

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course :East.
       Target : Templin , Germany.
       Type of mission: Operational Bombing.

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Clear.

4.    Last know date : 6 Mar 1944
       time : 12:40
       location : 5227 - 1117 E.

5.    Aircraft believed to have been lost as a result of : enemy aircrafts

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-38136

7.    Nickname of aircraft : --

8.    Engines : R-1820-97.

10.  Persons listed below listed as : Battle Casualties.

11.  Persons on board : Crew : 10.

12.  List crew position , name , rank , serial no. and current status :
Pilot Claude Marcus Kolb 2nd Lt. 0-804686 POW
Copilot Emmett Sublett Sutton 1st Lt 0-684790 POW
Navigator Ralph Raymond E'del 2nd Lt 0-690640 POW
Bombardier Edward Corbon Jones 2nd Lt 0-752757 POW
Radio Operator Edward Wallach S/Sgt 12192399 POW
Engr / Top Turret Fred Howard Webb S/Sgt 33215436 POW
Ball Turret Gunner William George Cameron S/Sgt 11081911 POW
Tail Gunner Leo Anthony Podlasek S/Sgt 16079311 POW
Left Waist Gunner Luther Anson Raymer S/Sgt 18128230 POW
Right Waist Gunner Clarence Stuart Conerty Sgt 18180569 POW
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

William J. Kelley          1st Lt.          O-802205        612 th
George R. Van Dyke   2nd Lt.        O-683350        612 th
John B. Garity               S/Sgt.          16155719        612 th

-     Aircraft was attacked by ME 210's.
      It fell behind and dove straight down 2000-3000 feet and then exploded.
      One chute was definitely indentified by tail gunner and there may have been one or two.




Mission to Templin, Germany, Aircraft was attacked by ME 210's.
Chrashed in a forrest near Biesow, Germany.


Will be continued soon



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