On July 7, 1944, 1129 bombers left for various targets in the Leipzig area. This included 373 B-24 Liberators that attacked Aschersleben, Bernburg and Halle, among others. B-24J 42-99966 'Full House' of 68th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, which took off from RAF Shipdham airbase at 04:10, also participated in this attack on Bernburg. This was the 23rd mission for the crew of B-24J 42-99966 'Full House'.

Just before the bombs were released, B-24J 42-99966 'Full House' was damaged by fire from a Bf 110. It quickly lost altitude and the aircraft was soon attacked for a second time. This time by several Bf 109s. However, the gunners fought these fighters away. Shortly afterwards another B-24 pulled along (#42-100170), which was also badly damaged. They were escorted by two P-38s but due to insufficient power, the crew decided to leave the aircraft.

The left waist-gunner, Stanley G. Nalipa, was unable to evacuate the aircraft due to his injuries. He was helped out of the plane but his parachute failed to open, causing Stanley G. Nalipa to fall to his death. The other eight crew members successfully parachuted out of the aircraft. Copilot Walter B. Shambarger was stabbed to death by a Dutch Landwachter (nazi-sympathizer).

Shortly after 11:00 B-24J 42-99966 'Full House' crashed in Valthe as a result of the damage.

https://www.slodrenthe.nl/b-24j-liberator-42-99966-full-house/