After completing their bomb run at Osnabruk, the B-17G s/n 42-97691 (no name) took a direct flak shell hit blowing the nose off and killing the two navigators and bombardier. Fearing he would not be able to control the aircraft, Capt. Healy (P) ordered the crew to bail out but rescinded the order moments later. Two crewmen had already parachuted and were captured on the ground. The remaining five men limped back to friendly territory and landed near Volkel, Netherlands.