B-17G " What Next? "   42-97464    614th

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 : 3941

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 614th.

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

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Haze - 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. : 42-97464

7.    Nickname of aircraft : What Next?

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 Boudinot Stimson 1st Lt 0-799493 POW
Copilot Robert Henry Timberlake 2nd Lt 0-687721 POW
Navigator John Edwin O'Neal Jr. 1st Lt 0-671169 KIA
Bombardier Jack Leroy Pfaffman 1st Lt 0-749735 POW
Radio Operator Carman Louis Mancuso T/Sgt 32582642 POW
Engr / Top Turret Karl E. Kukurin T/Sgt 33301988 POW
Ball Turret Gunner Paul Salvatore Melia S/Sgt 32806521 POW
Tail Gunner Alfred Le Sage S/Sgt 13068963 POW
Left Waist Gunner Andrew Lanson Allen Cpl 31062427 POW
Right Waist Gunner John Campbell Mac Queen Sgt 10600624 KIA
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

-    About 10 minutes past the target the ship was attacked by 14 FW 190 and 109's.
      After fighter had attacked aircraft and right wing tip burning , pilot peeled off, flew parralel to the formation at
      about 15,000 feet and crew bailed out.
      Four chutes ( 2 immediate , 2 delayed ) were definitely seen.
      Others had an opportunity toget out and there is a possibility that there were more chutes.
      A/C turned back and seemed under control for about 40 seconds , the went into steep dive and blew up
      at 16000 Feet.




Mission to Schweinfurt, Germany, After fighter had attacked aircraft and right wing tip burning.
Crashed near Weibersbrunn, Germany


Will be continued soon



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