B-17G " Channel Express III "   42-40050    612th

19 Jun 1944   Mission # 93   Target: Bordeaux, France


                  19 Jun 1944 , 04:45 engines are on.
                  41 aircraft were airborne by 05:53 , mission #93 , target today is a airfield at Bordeaux.

                  The Group encountered heavy clouds up to 30,000 feet on this mission.
                  They were led to the correct course, enabling the Wing Bombardier, Capt. Fesmire, to score a "shack".
                  Several minutes of very accurate flak were experienced over the target, resulting in the loss of three 401st aircraft.

Missing Air Crew Report : 6002

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

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

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course :South.
       Target :Bordeaux, France.
       Type of mission: Operational Bombing.

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : 3/10 scattered clouds.

4.    Last know date : 19 jun 1944
       time : 09:05
       location : Approx 4430 - 0010 E.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-40050

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Channel Express III

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 William Eugene Massey 2nd Lt. 0-684022 --
Copilot Dominic Ceresa 2nd Lt 0-817388 KIA
Navigator William Thomas Nealon 2nd Lt 0-707792 KIA
Bombardier Lewis Verdun Stelljes 2nd Lt 0-757931 --
Radio Operator Harold Leslie Eames T/Sgt 39552839 KIA
Engr / Top Turret Francis Joseph Berard Jr. S/Sgt 11042453 --
Ball Turret Gunner Robert Luther Mahler T/Sgt 15082947 KIA
Tail Gunner Paul Alvan White S/Sgt 18129352 KIA
Left Waist Gunner Alfred Edwin Wieters S/Sgt 17098509 KIA
Right Waist Gunner James Peter Faulkner T/Sgt 39035125 KIA
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Walter N. Haberer            Capt.          0-409740       612 th

-    A/C turned off course, lost altitude and blew up.
      No flak was encountered or observed in area at time.




Will be continued soon



If you have questions, remarks or information , please feel free to Email me
or leave a message in my guestbook

Top