Richard E. Schmansky was the Co-Pilot of B-17 44-8430, RECALL, when it collided with B-17 43‑37843, ALEX in bad weather on return from bombing mission to Ingolstadt, Germany, 5 April 1945.

Pilot, Charles Allyn Lewis and Schmansky were able to successfully land the aircraft at Airfield A-87 (Charleroi, Belgium) after 3 crewmembers bailed out. All the men on the crew survived the mid-air collision.

The crew of George Cathey flying in B-17 43-37843 bailed out and the aircraft crashed in Belgium. The entire Cathey Crew survived the mid-air and bail out.