B-17G " Cawn't Miss "   42-31116    614th

29 April 1944   Mission # 60   Target: Berlin


                  29 April 1944 , 06:40 engines are on.
                  21 aircraft were airborne by 07:30 , mission #60 , target today are Railroad marshalling yards in Berlin.

                  The 401st was part of a force of over 1,000 heavy bombers which dropped over 2,000 tons of bombs on Berlin
                  in the largest daytime blow ever struck at the Reich.
                  While the 401st did not encounter any enemy fighters , flak over the target was extremely heavy and accurate.
                  As a result the 401st lost three aircraft and crews, those piloted by Lt. Donald E. Butterworth (42-31226),
                  Capt. George Gould (42-31521) and Lt. J. H. Singleton (42-31116).

Missing Air Crew Report : 4344

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

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

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

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : 10/10 undercast , CAVU at altitude.

4.    Last know date : 29 April 1944
       time : 10:30
       location : 5237 - 0910 E.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-31116

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Cawn't Miss

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 J. H. Singleton 2nd Lt. 0-747507 Evaded
Copilot Clarence Stephen Barsuk 2nd Lt 0-755268 Evaded
Navigator James Gerard Levey 2nd Lt 0-674688 Evaded
Bombardier Glenn Albert Arndt 2nd Lt 0-685070 KIA
Radio Operator Joseph John Vistejn Jr. S/Sgt 15377673 KIA
Engr / Top Turret William Rowe Muse S/Sgt 34306837 Evaded
Ball Turret Gunner Warren Allen Lee Sgt 18190042 KIA
Tail Gunner Harry James Blair Jr. Sgt 33440210 Evaded
Left Waist Gunner Reed Lee Brotzman Sgt 33464646 KIA
Right Waist Gunner Solomon William Brackman Sgt 12031946 KIA
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Elmer M. Fetzer            S/Sgt.       39030376       613 th
Alexander Martinelli   S/Sgt.       33580362       613 th

-    A/C weaved around after apparently being hit by flak.
      It feathered # 2 engine and left formation.
      It then joined another formation until it was lost sight of.




Mission to Berlin, Germany, # 2 engine hit by flak, It then joined another formation until it was lost sight of.
Crashed near Leers, France / Belgium border



Will be continued soon



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