41-31710 General Sherman
AAM Photo
Assigned to 557BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Engers, Germany with Pete Gregorchuk crew; hit by flak, crew baled out, pilot force landed A/C. 5 x POW, 1 x KIA. MACR 12341
Approx 16:00 hours they were over the target and encountered heavy flak. The pilot called for the crew to bail out. In an eyewitness statement from the Missing Air Crew Report, Sgt. Howard L. Nelson stated that all three gunners bailed out the right waist window. The togglier left the ship by the bomb bay doors. The pilot and co-pilot remained with the aircraft and crash landed near Sayen, 9 kilometres north of Koblenz, Germany. All were captured by the Germans. Nelson says that he meet Sgt. William B. Harbour, the engineer/gunner and the others about five hours after the crash in a stone building on the east bank of the Rhine at Koblenz, Germany.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32240791
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12122373 / O-721708
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 387th Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 557th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16044004
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34637214
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Engineer / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17130573E / O-721070
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Willingale
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
9 miles Nth Koblenz, Germany | 14 February 1945 | Failed to Return (FTR) Engers, Germany; hit by flak, crew baled out MACR 12341 |
Assigned |
Chipping Ongar, UK | Assigned to 557BS, 387BG, 9AF USAAF. |