Eye-witness account on the loss of this aircrew is sketchy. A summary report was given by Lt. Stroble, crew Pilot, 578th, Lead Squadron, on whose right wing Lt. Clapper's ship was flying and Lt. Caldwell, another crew Pilot, 576th, flying in the Low Squadron. The reports indicated that Clapper's plane had evidently been hit by flak over the target and that Clapper had called Stroble on VHF radio at 1030 hours saying that two gasoline tanks had been shot out and he was going to ditch the ship in the North Sea. The crippled aircraft was reported again at 1130 hours by Lt. Caldwell as still being in formation, but dropped out (of formation) at this time. The Deputy Lead of the (Lead) formation was then told to fly at 10,000 feet (probably to find and fly with the Clapper plane over the North Sea return route home). The Deputy Lead did drop down to accompany the crippled aircraft as instructed, but could not find it thereafter. Nothing further was ever determined about this missing aircrew and aircraft....