42-29574 The Sky Wolf II

Delivered Denver 6/1/43; Salina 12/1/43; Homestead 4/2/43; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-G] Bassingbourn 25/2/43; Missing in Action 8m Bremen 17/4/43 with Nick Stoffel (+ 92BG crew), Co-pilot: Capt Bob Foster, Navigator: John Segrest, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Edson Saylor, Waist gunner: John Townsend (5 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Everett Coppage, Radio Operator: Harry Langhofer, Ball turret gunner: Carl Quist, Waist gunner: Doug Wood, Tail gunner: Matt Medina (5 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Fiebing, 10 miles S of Aurich, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 6574. THE SKY WOLF II.



17 April 1943, Target: Bremen, Aircraft Plant

Although “Sky Wolf II” had been hit hard on the bomb run and the No. 1 engine was on fire, Lt Stoffel kept her in position over the target. The bombardier, Lt Coppage, toggled the bombs with the rest of the Squadron. As soon as the Group turned off the target and was just beyond the edge of the flak barrage, more enemy aircraft jumped “Sky Wolf II.” A 20 mm shell hit the nose throwing Plexiglas into the face of Lt Coppage, causing severe, profusely bleeding, wounds. The navigator, 1Lt John F. Segrest, Jr., who had also suffered wounds in both legs and his shoulder, told Lt Coppage he needed immediate medical attention and should bail out. He then helped Lt Coppage out the nose hatch. Although alive when he left the aircraft, Lt Coppage did not survive.



Lt Segrest then went up into the cockpit to help Lt Stoffel fly the plane. They flew along for about five minutes when more fighters came at them. “Sky Wolf II” took a direct 20 mm cannon shell hit that knocked out all the controls. Lt Stoffel rang the bail-out bell and said to Lt Segrest, “Let’s go.” Both officers went down to the nose hatch and bailed out.



The electrical system to the ball turret was not active and the gunner, Sgt Carl H. Quist, could not rotate around to get out. He remained trapped in the falling aircraft. The tail gunner, Sgt Mathew C. Medina, had not been heard over the intercom for some time. He apparently was either dead or so badly injured he could not bail out. Sgt Medina also went down with “Sky Wolf II.”



“Sky Wolf II” crashed 10 miles south of Aurich, in Ostfriesland, Germany. (The First of Many: First Crews of the 8th Air Force by Lowell L Getz)

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-729719
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-412795
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17061485 / O-737961
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17019967
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17011899
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 17 April 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

AAM

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 6574 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database