Schultz was radio operator/gunner on 324 Sqdn's 'Rhapsody in Red' 42-97959. Whilst she was being repaired following an operation Frank Adam's crew were assigned a brand new factory fresh B-17, 43-38946, for the 1944 Christmas Eve Merzhausen mission. After take-off they reached an altitude of some 20 ft when - wheels up - she dropped down, ploughing through trees and hedgerows before landing in a field, crew, ammunition and fragmentation bombs scattered everywhere and the plane a complete write-off. Fortunately all the crew survived without injury. The plane was officially credited with 10 minutes combat time, almost certainly a record. Schultz discovered later that nine other 8th AF B-17's had crashed on take-off during that mission; that of the 91st being the only one where no casualties were incurred.



Flew 35 missions 1944-1945.



DFC/ AM