Killed in Action (KIA) 10 January 1945 in AC 44-8304. Plane took off in bad weather, for mission only reached 300 ft before crashing into a loarge tree at Rookery Farm, Monewden, about 2 miles north of airfield. It caught fire and slithered some distance before coming to rest in a ploughed field. About 5 min later 2 of the 4 1,000 lb bombs exploded and 4 of the crew were killed. The other 2 failed to explode. Pilot's name was Lt. Wiliam H. Butler.



Sixteen more B-17s, five P-51s and two B-24s were wrecked in crashes, forced landings, and accidents in Allied territory. One of these losses was the B-17G-50-VE 44-8304 of the 862nd BS, 493rd BG that crashed on take off from Debach. It had been snowing for several days and was still snowing when this bomber, piloted by 1st Lt William H. Butler, fully loaded with 2700 gallons of fuel, four 1000-lb bombs and several hundred pounds of chaff, took off. It struggled to a height of 300 ft., refused to climb any higher and finally crashed into a large tree at Rookery Farm, Monewden, about two miles north of the airfield. The bomber caught fire and skidded some distance before coming to rest in a plowed field. About five minutes later, two of the four bombs exploded and the other two were hurled more than 30 ft. but failed to explode. 1st Lt. Butler, 2nd Lt. Sidney B. Jones, Jr. (co-pilot), and S/SGT Ray H Beeles (engineer-top turret gunner), were all killed. Sergeant August B. Muenzer (tail gunner) died on the way to the hospital. His body was returned to Toledo and interred in the family plot at Calvary in July, 1948.