Delivered Cheyenne 25/10/43; Gr Island 3/11/43; Romulus 12/11/43; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-N] Ridgewell 11/12/43.

On mission to Achmer 21/2/44 with George McIntosh; Navigator: Allen Bergreen, Bombardier: Bill Piekarski bailed out and became POWs.

Missing in Action 10m Schweinfurt 13/4/44 with Jim Mullane, Co-pilot: Pax Sherwood, Navigator: Pat O’Phelan, Bombardier: John Kirby, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Stahlke, Radio Operator: Bob Kettlety, Ball turret gunner: Thaddeus Tarczynski, Waist gunner: Lew Sparrow,Tail gunner: Frank Troxler (9 Prisoner of War); flak ko’d #3, lost altitude and another engine caught fire, eventually ship exploded and crashed Klosterkumbd, four miles N of Simmern/Hunsruck, 22 miles S of Koblenz, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 3865. OUR DESIRE.

"Right after bombing Schweinfurt on 13 April 1944 the bomber of pilot James F. Mullane of 381 Bomb Group (535 BS) was hit by flak and engine # 3 quit. The B-17 lost more and more altitude and speed until another engine began smoking and quit.

For a certain time there was an escort of two P-47’s, but when the situation became too dangerous all bailed out. The ship exploded mid-air and crashed at Klosterkumbd, 6 km north of Simmern/Hunsrück. All men survived."

Service

Events

Event	Location	Date
Manufactured	Seattle, WA, USA	1943
Built at Boeing.
Delivered	Francis E. Warren AFB, WY, USA	25 October 1943
Delivered Cheyenne AAF 25-Oct-43.
Assigned	Ridgewell, Halstead CO9, UK	11 December 1943
Assigned 535BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF.
Crashed	Klosterkumbd, Germany	13 April 1944
Missing in Action 10m Schweinfurt 13-Apr-44 flak ko’d #3, lost altitude and another engine caught fire, eventually ship exploded and crashed Klosterkumbd, four miles Nth of Simmern/Hunsruck, 22 miles S th of Koblenz; MACR 3865.