B-17G   42-97448    614th

20 April 1944   Mission # 53   Target: Bois Coquerel , France


                  20 April 1944 , 15:20 engines are on.
                  28 aircraft were airborne by 1620 , target today is Bois Coquerel (German V-1 rocket sites on the Pas de Calais) .

                  Bombing results ranged from fair to excellent on these difficult targets.
                  Flak was intense and accurate and, because of the haze, all formations made more than one run over the target.
                  Two 401st aircraft were brought down by flak.
                  No. 42-97448, flown by Lt. Charles S. Ksieniewicz, and No. 42-31593, flown by Lt. Frank F. Dougherty.

Missing Air Crew Report : 4055

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

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

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course :E-N-E.
       Target :Bois Coquerel , France.
       Type of mission: Operational Bombing.

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Ceiling and visibility unrestricted , with haze.

4.    Last know date : 20 April 1944
       time :18:15
       location : 5001 N - 0150 E.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-97448

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 Charles Stanley Ksieniewicz 1st Lt. 0-677782 Evaded
Copilot Kenneth George Harrington 2nd Lt 0-745371 KIA
Navigator Joseph Charles Dastous 2nd Lt 0-809480 Evaded
Bombardier John Joseph King 2nd Lt 0-679470 Evaded
Radio Operator Maurice Vincent Wilber Sgt 12139342 POW
Engr / Top Turret Francis Burke T/Sgt 32335045 POW
Ball Turret Gunner Donald Edgar McEldowney Sgt 19005899 POW
Tail Gunner Kenneth Aaron Rister S/Sgt 39276622 POW
Left Waist Gunner Terrence William Harmon Sgt 32446490 POW
Right Waist Gunner John Joseph McCarthy Sgt 32544924 POW
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Louis S. Rush                      F/O.         T-123109        ? th
Herbert F. McElligott        S/Sgt.      36426974        ? th


-    After # 4 engine was hit By flak A/C flew along in formation for about 3 or 4 minutes.
      Smoke trailed # 4 engine for a long ways.
      A/C then spiralled off to the right , then went into a steep dive for about 1000 Feet.
      A/C was then pulled up and this was when the chutes ( 5 or more ) were seen.
      A/C the fell about 2000 Feet and one more chute came out.
      It the went into a slow spiral to the ground and blew up upon contact , time 18:26.






Mission to Bois Coquerel, France, # 4 engine hit by flak, it the went into a slow spiral to the ground and blew up upon contact.
Crashed near Lucy, France


Will be continued soon



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