515
4 August 1944B-24JAZ-155-CO Liberator 44-40277 "Miss Used" from the 753rd BS, 458th BG, 8th AF.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12020-81704AC
The crew in the photo flew "Miss Used" from the U.S. to England:
Standing (L-R): Pilot - 1st Lt. Gerald W. Matze, Navigator - 1st Lt. Arthur L. Smith, Bombardier - 1st Lt. Charles W. Bullard, Copilot - 1st Lt. Melvin E. Fields
Middle Row (L-R): Engineer - T/Sgt. Clarence "Pops" W. Ferris, Tail Gunner - S/Sgt. Karl E. Van Kuran,Jr., Radio Operator - T/Sgt. Michael P. Agresta, Left Waist Gunner - S/Sgt. Adolph "Tex" Janowski.
Front Row (L-R): Nose Turret Gunner - S/Sgt. James P. Keel, Right Waist Gunner - S/Sgt. Albert J. Pizzica.
The crew all completed tour.
Changed spelling from 'Pizzaca' to 'Pizzica': http://www.458bg.com/crewaz05matze.htm
Mission Details
MIMOYECQUES
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: This is the first APHRODITE mission (388th Bomb Group). 4 war-weary B-17s are packed with 20,000 pound of nitrostarch explosive to make them flying bombs, the largest ever constructed up until that time. The aircraft carry a crew of two, the pilot and an autopilot engineer. The drone would be flown to an altitude of 1,800 feet, then put into a gentle dive and make a final run at the target at 600-700 feet, guided by radio control from "mother ship" B-24s flying above and behind. The targets were all V-Weapon sites that the Germans were modifying to be able to launch the V-2 rocket. The one at Mimoyecques was an underground facility whose entrance was fitted with enormous steel doors that were only opened for 30 minutes each day. The objective was to fly the aircraft bomb through the opening. The pilot and engineer would bail out over England after reaching altitude and set the controls. One of the drones was flown by Lt. Fain Pool with engineer S. Sgt Philip Enterline. Lt. Poll got the aircraft into the air and all was fine for about 10 minutes. Sgt Enterline had trouble setting the autopilot and arming the explosives. The plane began to spin out of control and both Pool and Enterline managed to bail out, Pool going out at about 500 feet. The plane, then under radio control recovered and was flown to the target but would not make the final dive. It was shot down by AA. A moment later the second drone stalled out and went into a fatal dive. The engineer was able to bail out, but the pilot, Lt. John Fischer was killed in the explosion and crash. The other two drones both missed their targets. The crews bailed out successfully but suffered injuries.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 20 T
SIRACOURT
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
WATTEN
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
WIZERNES
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 753rd Bomb Squadron 458th Bomb Group 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39157878 / O-745764
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Revisions
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.