Date: 1943 Oct 10/10 | A/C Type: B-17F | SN: 42-5898 | Code: | A/C Nickname: Little Lass | ||||||
File: 99 | Airforce: USAAF | Sqn/Unit: 388 BG - 562 BS | Mission/Raid: Münster | |||||||
1 | Pilot | 1Lt. Paul E. Williams | 9 | WG | S/Sgt. Ralph S. Cornwell | |||||
2 | Co-pilot | 2Lt. Israel Rogg | 10 | TG | S/Sgt. Roland W. Conners | |||||
3 | Nav. | 2Lt. Edwin G. Garver | 11 | |||||||
4 | B | 2Lt. Robert W. Macy | 12 | |||||||
5 | E | T/Sgt. Raymond J. Harwood | 13 | |||||||
6 | RO | T/Sgt. Anthony A. Gardin | 14 | |||||||
7 | BTG | S/Sgt. Maynard B. Rollins | 15 | |||||||
8 | WG | S/Sgt. Harold E. Moore | 16 | |||||||
Damaged direct after bombing Münster. Dived out of formation, shot by German fighters and twin-engined fighters. Crew parachuted out near Greven 15km north of Münster and became POW. |
Some media report that this aircraft went down into Lake IJsselmeer (Old Zuyder Sea) or the North Sea, but that is incorrect.
MACR: "Ship #898 of the Group went down over the target just after bombs away. The crews report that this ship suddenly nosed down steeply and dove out of the formation during a lull in fighter activity. Reports were that a large burst of Flak exploded in the middle of the squadron formation and immediately thereafter #898 dived out of formation. As soon as 898 lost several thousand feet it was hit by a number of fighters. No additional information".
Engineer T/Sgt. Raymond J. Harwood post war: "We were attacked by fighters immediately after dropping bombs. No.3 engine feathered after 20mm hits short after target. Attacked again by twin-engine fighter. Shortly after pilot Lt. Williams, navigator Lt. Garver, I saw Lt. Rogg getting out of his seat. I helped Lt. Macy our bombardier because we were going strait down with 350 mph." During jumping out Harwood saw how cockpit was hit. Hanging on his parachute, a German fighter came straight at him but passed aside. "I parachuted into a tree. A German soldier arrested me, brought me to a town called Greven. Soon after that armed civilians came. Glad I was arrested by the soldier".
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Sources:
- MACR
- http://wwiiflighttraining.org/?page_id=432
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=19153164
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