B-17G   42-39979    612th

11 April 1944   Mission # 49   Target: Politz, Sorau , Germany


                  April 11, 1944 , 06:50 engines are on , 32 aircraft were airborne by 07:55
                  target today is a synthetic oil refinery at Politz , Sorau.

                  The primary target for this mission was the FW 190 assembly plant at Sorau, southeast of Berlin.
                  However, because the primary target was obscured by clouds, the Group bombed the secondary target,
                  the large synthetic oil refinery at Politz, just north of Stettin. Enroute to the target the Group encountered terrific flak,
                  during which three aircraft were lost..
                  Including the B-17's piloted by Lt. F. O. Kuhl and his crew

Missing Air Crew Report : 4018

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 612th.

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

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Clear.

4.    Last know date : 11 April 1944
       time : 11:05
       location : 5219 - 1032E.

5.    Aircraft believed to have been lost as a result of : Enemy anti-aircraft

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-39979

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 Frank Oscar Kuhl 2nd Lt 0-803225 POW
Copilot Edward J. Czupryk 2nd Lt 0-808151 POW
Navigator Armand Morton Sussman 2nd Lt 0-812002 POW
Bombardier William Charles Urry 2nd Lt 0-753082 POW
Radio Operator Edward Shaw Jr. T/Sgt 16168754 POW
Engr / Top Turret Charles Eustace Robinson Jr. S/Sgt 19028063 POW
Ball Turret Gunner Ray Peter Dzia Dzia S/Sgt 11101178 KIA
Tail Gunner James George Terwiske S/Sgt 35724507 POW
Left Waist Gunner Robert Donald Funk S/Sgt 37501161 POW
Right Waist Gunner William Donald Smith S/Sgt 19122676 POW
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Percy J. Stengel                T/Sgt      36276698       612 th
Morris W. Johnson          T/Sgt      35494817       612 th

-    While traversing a flak area A/C peeled out of formation to the left and turned back towards England.
      Gas was seen coming out of right wing.
      A/C was under control when last seen.




Mission to Politz, Poland, after being hit by flak, the plane had no 2 engine on fire.
They turned back to England but crashed near Vechta, Germany.


Will be continued soon



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