42-97091 Dear Mom
Delivered Cheyenne 26/1/44; Alexandra 12/2/44; Presque Is 4/3/44; Assigned 561BS/388BG [F] Knettishall 6/3/44; Missing in Action Kiel 22/5/44 with Gailard Mergenthaler, Co-pilot: Bernie Cohen, Navigator: Paul Pearson, Bombardier: Bill Hamilton, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Knepper, Radio Operator: Don Sprague, Ball turret gunner: George Anshutz, Waist gunner: Bill Ficklen, Waist gunner: John Shartz (9 Prisoner of War); Tail gunner: Bob Hildebrand (Killed in Action); flak KOd #3 & #4, crashed Nettelsee, 11 miles NE of Holstein, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 4956. DEAR MOM.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19176865
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Kiel, Germany | 22 May 1944 | |
Crashed |
24250 Nettelsee, Germany | 22 May 1944 |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4956 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database