Date: 1943 Dec 22/22 | A/C Type: B-24 D Liberator | SN: 41-28609 | Code: | A/C Nickname: | ||||||
File: 790 | Airforce: USAAF | Sqn/Unit: 448 BG - 714 BS | Mission/Raid: Osnabrück | |||||||
1 | Pilot | 2Lt. Edward D. Hughey Jr. MIA | 9 | RWG | S/Sgt Richard B. Laing MIA | |||||
2 | Co-pilot | 2Lt. Charles D. Hill MIA | 10 | TG | S/Sgt John L. Keim POW Texel Isle | |||||
3 | Nav. | 2Lt. Sumner W. Stevens MIA | 11 | |||||||
4 | B | 2Lt. Edwin S. Jacobsen MIA | 12 | |||||||
5 | E | S/Sgt Curtis L. Koon MIA | 13 | |||||||
6 | RO | S/Sgt James G. Hicks POW Texel Isle | 14 | |||||||
7 | BTG | S/Sgt Carl Anderson MIA | 15 | |||||||
8 | LWG | S/Sgt Homer C. Risner MIA (shot dead in a/c) | 16 | |||||||
Return from Osnabrück was on high altitude, above a thick deck of clouds. Formation ran into intense Flak and fighter attacks on position 52°38'N-06°20'E. This is in the Netherlands, east of Staphorst. The bomber formation was scattered. Damaged aircraft lost speed and sank beneath the clouds, often again attacked by fighters. 22 bombers were lost from Osnabrück to the British coast. |
Sgt. Hicks: "Over Freisen Isl. left ship through left waist window. Landed safely on island and was taken POW. Sgt. Keim was there also POW, he bailed out before explosion".
No burial record of one of the missing crew found on Texel Island (Den Burg Cemetery). We believe the bomber just passed Texel Island, exploded (under fighter attack) and the parts came down west of Texel Island in the North Sea. Eight man crew MIA in North Sea, later declared dead.
Sources:
- all MACR on the 22 December raid
- http://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/american-war-cemetery-margraten-h/49057-hughey-edward-d-jr
- On Stevens, incl. MACR photos: http://www.etiebax.nl/adoptiegraven/20/
© ZZairwar (Zuyder Zee Air War)