Delivered Lincoln 23/8/44; Grenier 9/9/45; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-G] Molesworth 24/9/44; battle damaged Cologne 10/1/45 with Cecil Gates, Theo Zapora, Harry Elliott, Ben Dodell, John Wysocki, Paul Hassler (6 Returned to Duty); Chas Mauer, Dick Duerr, Chris Tamava (3 Prisoner of War); Emil Kayrallah (Killed in Action); force landed continent, Salvaged.



From 303rbg.com - Failed to Return (FTR) Bonn/Brilon, Germany. The B-17 was hit by flak at the target and was losing altitude. The #1 engine was out and feathered, #2 was burning and #3 was wind-milling. Interphone communication was inoperable, The only working compass was the Pilot's magnetic compass. 1Lt Gates was almost standing on the left rudder with the control yoke nearly to his chest attempting to maintain control. At the urging of the Navigator 1Lt Gates turned west in an attempt to make it past Allied lines. There was a 100% overcast below, the Battle of the Bulge was raging and battle lines, according to pre-flight briefings, were fluid. It also became apparent that a safe decent could not be made through the overcast with the flight instruments out. The Bombardier was sent back to the waist to bail out the six enlisted men. They were briefed on the direction to walk, to take cover and to try to evade capture. The four officers parachuted from the B-17 somewhere between Neufchateau and Florenville, Belgium. Two of the enlisted men were killed by the Germans. One evaded capture and three, became POW's. The four Officers evaded capture MACR 11573