Albert Richard Macuch
MilitaryIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Shot down on 23rd mission, hit in Metz France. B-17 44-6512, Crashed in Leige, Belgium. Missing Air Crew Report 10448.
Only other survivor was pilot Donald Springstead who went for help to this day we have no idea of his whereabouts. Dad wrote Date 11/16/44 Target Metz France. Hit in # 3 engine and right wing Ship failed to maintain altitude. Six crew members bailed out believed to be in enemy territory at the time. Pilot, co pilot and myself remained aboard. We managed to salvo the remaining 15 bombs, I tried to salvo ball turret in hopes of maintaining altitude. Time was short and I couldn't find tools to do so. The ship mushed at approx 500 ft and held its altitude. All windows were frozen and visibility was zero. We decided to set her down in the blind as a last resort. Abandoning ship at 50 ft is suicide so co-pilot started the letdown. In later discovery, I learned that we landed in a thick wooded area. Approx 7 miles past enemy lines and approx 15 miles from Tongress. I was treated at Liege Belgium. Incident occurred thirty days ago and I still can't account for anyone but myself. No crew member has reported to base nor has any news of capture been received. The family has a tape he made regarding this flight it is about 20 min long.
A radio play of Albert Macuch's experience is available at http://www.radiovisions.net/1042.html
Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Air Medal w 3/Oak Leaf Cluster/Victory Medal; WWII Medal; EAME Medal w/3b strs & Amer Campaign Medal
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-763902
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-719081
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38403556
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36741559
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-697175
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot, co-pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 16 November 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
1 March 1923 | ||
Enlisted |
14 September 1942 | Residence: Broome County, New York Private, Air Corps | |
Other Assigned |
17 July 1944 - 16 November 1944 | Assigned to the 384th Bomb Group, 544th Bomb Squadron on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #140 dated 17 July 1944, Dale Morris McKinney Crew. 23 combat missions. | |
Other |
27 September 1944 | Aircraft did not take off. Taxi accident prior to takeoff, crew not injured; replaced by ground spare aircraft 43‑37971. | |
Other Shot Down |
16 November 1944 | Hospitalized at 20th Field Hospital, France. | |
Died |
18 November 2002 | ||
Buried |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - “survivor” was misspelled.
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=2402;
- AAIR 44-09-27-510 ;
- Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
2015-07-16, Consolidated information from AAIR 44-09-27-510 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=2402
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / daughter Helen Schubmehl, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…