My father, Eugene Shultz, was from a family of 10 and signed up with the Army Air Corps in Jan 42. His exceptional math skills led to his selection for the Aviation Cadet Program and became a B-17 pilot. He arrived at Ridgewell Aerodrome just after the second Schweinfurt raid in late Oct. 43.



On his 18th mission, flying B-17 #4239891, he lost an engine mechanically enroute to the target in Frankfurt am Main then lost two more due to flak damage over the target. He gave the bail out order and 8 men hit the silk soon afterwards. He managed to get the B-17 under control and tried to make the English Channel. The remaining engine burst into flames due to excessive power at a low altitude and he and the RWG bailed out at that point near Martelange, BE.



Belgian civilians assisted them and kept them hidden in a cabin deep in the Ardennes. A month later he tried to make it to Switzerland but was captured at a train station in Nancy, France and sent to Stalag Luft III. The waist gunner, SSgt John Farr, teamed up with some downed British flyers in June and made it to Switzerland and eventually back to the states.



After the war, Dad remained in the new U.S. Air Force and flew cargo aircraft most of the rest of his career, retiring in 1965.