B-17G " Command Performance "   42-31508    613th

13 April 1944   Mission # 50   Target: Schweinfurt , Germany


                  13 April 1944 , 09:50 engines are on.
                   22 aircraft on mission #50 , target today is Ball bearing plant in Schweinfurt , Germany.

                  Enemy fighters were agressive and persistent, with as many as 150 to 200 encountered during the mission,
                  and some coming as close as 75 yards.
                  Flak was heavy as well. Clouds over the target made observations of strike results impossible.
                  The 401st lost two aircraft on this mission

Missing Air Crew Report : 3938

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 613th.

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

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Visibility good.

4.    Last know date : 13 April 1944
       time : 14:05
       location : Few miles west of Schweinfurt.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-31508

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Command Performance

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 Alfred Edward Vokaty 1st Lt 0-803717 POW
Copilot William Mooney Gambrell Jr. 2nd Lt 0-750783 POW
Navigator Shea Schachter 2nd Lt 0-809734 POW
Bombardier Charles Rex Strode 1st Lt 0-747060 POW
Radio Operator Ronald Clifford Halpin T/Sgt 32428831 POW
Engr / Top Turret Joseph James Boros T/Sgt 33285703 POW
Ball Turret Gunner Howard Marlin Crull S/Sgt 15339917 POW
Tail Gunner Warren Canter S/Sgt 15116266 KIA
Left Waist Gunner Roy Garvin Sanders Jr. S/Sgt 37499328 KIA
Right Waist Gunner John Francis Campbell Sgt 13053658 POW
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Harold H. Domm          S/Sgt.        18176517       613 th
Clark G. Merrill            S/Sgt.        13098643       613 th
Frank G. DeWitt           S/Sgt.        19064865       613 th

-    14:00 , Fighters set A/C # 2 engine afire.
      Then 10 minutes later still smoking he was hit by single Me 190 which started bad fire in gas tanks.
      8 ( possibly 10 ) came out just before A/C went into dive and exploded.






Mission to Schweinfurt, Germany, hit by single Me 190 which started bad fire in gas tanks.
Crashed near Keilberg, Germany


Will be continued soon



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