From FAG Contributor (49788721) Son of Alanzo Silva Sosa.
------------------------------------------
2nd/Lt. Robert S. Sosa KIA
Hometown: Arizona
Squadron: 564th BS 389th Bomb Group
Service # O-751851
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain Joseph A. Higgins POW
Target:Berlin Germany.
Missing Air Crew Report Details 389th BG loses two aircraft on another trip to Berlin.
USAAF MACR#: 4494
Date Lost: 29-Apr-44
Serial Number: 41-28676
Aircraft Model B-24H-10-DT
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:
Location:Dummer Lake area Near Nienburg Germany
Cause: German Fighter Shot Down Apr 29, 1944 By Gunfire From German Messerschmitt BF 109G-6
Flown By Ofw. Jantzen of JG 11/2
2 Crew Were Killed. (9) Bailed Out and Were Captured and Became POWs.
Note:2nd Combat Wing 389BG, lead 453BG, high 445BG, low
Apparently Higgins crew was one of two Pathfinder aircraft assigned to the lead Group (389thBG) for this mission.
Mission Overview:
The 8th Air Force called for a massive strike against the Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station in Berlin-751 bombers from eight B-17 and four B-24 Combat Wings-arranged into three forces.
The third force was 252 B-24s from four Combat Wings in the 2nd Bomb Division. The Liberators carried either five 1000-pound GP and three 100-pound IBs or 52 100-pound IBs. With the exception of that unlucky Wing, the first force and all the second force had ample fighter protection to the target. The third force, the B-24s from the 2nd Air Division, was not so fortunate. They met 60 to 80 enemy aircraft northeast of Hannover. These fighters attacked for 10 minutes and then, after reforming, attacked for another 20 minutes on the final approach to the target. They finally broke off after the formation had made its final turn to the target. In less than 25 minutes, five B-24s crashed as a result of these attacks and many more were damaged.
Lt. Higgins Crew
Col. Robert C. Sears Command Pilot POW
1st/Lt. Joseph A. Higgins Jr. Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Perry Wharton Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Harry W. Casey Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Robert S. Sosa Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Chester Broyles Jr. Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Myron Boerschinger Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Thomas E. Sumlin Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. David L. York Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Raymond J. Bookout Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Charles A. Piper Gunner POW
Crew not on this mission,
Lt.Col. Harry H. Putnam Navigator POW
T/Sgt. William R. Cauble Radio Op. POW
------------------------------------------
2nd/Lt. Robert S. Sosa KIA
Hometown: Arizona
Squadron: 564th BS 389th Bomb Group
Service # O-751851
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain Joseph A. Higgins POW
Target:Berlin Germany.
Missing Air Crew Report Details 389th BG loses two aircraft on another trip to Berlin.
USAAF MACR#: 4494
Date Lost: 29-Apr-44
Serial Number: 41-28676
Aircraft Model B-24H-10-DT
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:
Location:Dummer Lake area Near Nienburg Germany
Cause: German Fighter Shot Down Apr 29, 1944 By Gunfire From German Messerschmitt BF 109G-6
Flown By Ofw. Jantzen of JG 11/2
2 Crew Were Killed. (9) Bailed Out and Were Captured and Became POWs.
Note:2nd Combat Wing 389BG, lead 453BG, high 445BG, low
Apparently Higgins crew was one of two Pathfinder aircraft assigned to the lead Group (389thBG) for this mission.
Mission Overview:
The 8th Air Force called for a massive strike against the Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station in Berlin-751 bombers from eight B-17 and four B-24 Combat Wings-arranged into three forces.
The third force was 252 B-24s from four Combat Wings in the 2nd Bomb Division. The Liberators carried either five 1000-pound GP and three 100-pound IBs or 52 100-pound IBs. With the exception of that unlucky Wing, the first force and all the second force had ample fighter protection to the target. The third force, the B-24s from the 2nd Air Division, was not so fortunate. They met 60 to 80 enemy aircraft northeast of Hannover. These fighters attacked for 10 minutes and then, after reforming, attacked for another 20 minutes on the final approach to the target. They finally broke off after the formation had made its final turn to the target. In less than 25 minutes, five B-24s crashed as a result of these attacks and many more were damaged.
Lt. Higgins Crew
Col. Robert C. Sears Command Pilot POW
1st/Lt. Joseph A. Higgins Jr. Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Perry Wharton Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Harry W. Casey Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Robert S. Sosa Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Chester Broyles Jr. Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Myron Boerschinger Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Thomas E. Sumlin Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. David L. York Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Raymond J. Bookout Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Charles A. Piper Gunner POW
Crew not on this mission,
Lt.Col. Harry H. Putnam Navigator POW
T/Sgt. William R. Cauble Radio Op. POW
From FAG Contributor (49788721) Son of Alanzo Silva Sosa.
------------------------------------------
2nd/Lt. Robert S. Sosa KIA
Hometown: Arizona
Squadron: 564th BS 389th Bomb Group
Service # O-751851
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain Joseph A. Higgins POW
Target:Berlin Germany.
Missing Air Crew Report Details 389th BG loses two aircraft on another trip to Berlin.
USAAF MACR#: 4494
Date Lost: 29-Apr-44
Serial Number: 41-28676
Aircraft Model B-24H-10-DT
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:
Location:Dummer Lake area Near Nienburg Germany
Cause: German Fighter Shot Down Apr 29, 1944 By Gunfire From German Messerschmitt BF 109G-6
Flown By Ofw. Jantzen of JG 11/2
2 Crew Were Killed. (9) Bailed Out and Were Captured and Became POWs.
Note:2nd Combat Wing 389BG, lead 453BG, high 445BG, low
Apparently Higgins crew was one of two Pathfinder aircraft assigned to the lead Group (389thBG) for this mission.
Mission Overview:
The 8th Air Force called for a massive strike against the Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station in Berlin-751 bombers from eight B-17 and four B-24 Combat Wings-arranged into three forces.
The third force was 252 B-24s from four Combat Wings in the 2nd Bomb Division. The Liberators carried either five 1000-pound GP and three 100-pound IBs or 52 100-pound IBs. With the exception of that unlucky Wing, the first force and all the second force had ample fighter protection to the target. The third force, the B-24s from the 2nd Air Division, was not so fortunate. They met 60 to 80 enemy aircraft northeast of Hannover. These fighters attacked for 10 minutes and then, after reforming, attacked for another 20 minutes on the final approach to the target. They finally broke off after the formation had made its final turn to the target. In less than 25 minutes, five B-24s crashed as a result of these attacks and many more were damaged.
Lt. Higgins Crew
Col. Robert C. Sears Command Pilot POW
1st/Lt. Joseph A. Higgins Jr. Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Perry Wharton Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Harry W. Casey Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Robert S. Sosa Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Chester Broyles Jr. Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Myron Boerschinger Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Thomas E. Sumlin Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. David L. York Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Raymond J. Bookout Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Charles A. Piper Gunner POW
Crew not on this mission,
Lt.Col. Harry H. Putnam Navigator POW
T/Sgt. William R. Cauble Radio Op. POW
------------------------------------------
2nd/Lt. Robert S. Sosa KIA
Hometown: Arizona
Squadron: 564th BS 389th Bomb Group
Service # O-751851
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain Joseph A. Higgins POW
Target:Berlin Germany.
Missing Air Crew Report Details 389th BG loses two aircraft on another trip to Berlin.
USAAF MACR#: 4494
Date Lost: 29-Apr-44
Serial Number: 41-28676
Aircraft Model B-24H-10-DT
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:
Location:Dummer Lake area Near Nienburg Germany
Cause: German Fighter Shot Down Apr 29, 1944 By Gunfire From German Messerschmitt BF 109G-6
Flown By Ofw. Jantzen of JG 11/2
2 Crew Were Killed. (9) Bailed Out and Were Captured and Became POWs.
Note:2nd Combat Wing 389BG, lead 453BG, high 445BG, low
Apparently Higgins crew was one of two Pathfinder aircraft assigned to the lead Group (389thBG) for this mission.
Mission Overview:
The 8th Air Force called for a massive strike against the Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station in Berlin-751 bombers from eight B-17 and four B-24 Combat Wings-arranged into three forces.
The third force was 252 B-24s from four Combat Wings in the 2nd Bomb Division. The Liberators carried either five 1000-pound GP and three 100-pound IBs or 52 100-pound IBs. With the exception of that unlucky Wing, the first force and all the second force had ample fighter protection to the target. The third force, the B-24s from the 2nd Air Division, was not so fortunate. They met 60 to 80 enemy aircraft northeast of Hannover. These fighters attacked for 10 minutes and then, after reforming, attacked for another 20 minutes on the final approach to the target. They finally broke off after the formation had made its final turn to the target. In less than 25 minutes, five B-24s crashed as a result of these attacks and many more were damaged.
Lt. Higgins Crew
Col. Robert C. Sears Command Pilot POW
1st/Lt. Joseph A. Higgins Jr. Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Perry Wharton Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Harry W. Casey Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Robert S. Sosa Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Chester Broyles Jr. Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Myron Boerschinger Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Thomas E. Sumlin Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. David L. York Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Raymond J. Bookout Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Charles A. Piper Gunner POW
Crew not on this mission,
Lt.Col. Harry H. Putnam Navigator POW
T/Sgt. William R. Cauble Radio Op. POW
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Arizona.
Family Members
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