Radio Op. T/Sgt. Richard W. Wenzlaff, KIA
Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin
Squadron:578th BS 392nd Bomb Group
Service # 36253583
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Robert K. White POW
Target: GOTHA
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:02945
Date Lost: 24-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-29192
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:"X"
Aircraft Name:"The Sky Shark" 4th Mission
Location: crashed into the small town of Westersheofen.
Cause: fierce and aggressive enemy fighter attacks
Crew of 10 1KIA 9 POW
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
The 392d Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 24 February 1944.
This mission was to go down in the annals of bombardment aerial warfare history as one of the most vital strikes ever made in World War II against Germany. The 392nd was to play the most important role in leading (6) of the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 Groups to the correct target when the leading Combat Wing of (3) Liberator Groups made a critical navigational error and turned to an incorrect attack heading thus, turning a near-disastrous mission for the Division into one of the most successful ever executed. The 392nd losses would be extremely heavy this day from some of the most fierce and relentless enemy fighter attacks ever encountered for such a long period of time over 21/2 hours into and from the target area. The following summaries taken from the Group's tactical mission records relates in small measure the history of that raid the 'Battle of Gotha'.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: The entire Group, and Second Air Division bomber stream, underwent fierce and aggressive enemy fighter attacks enroute to and over the target and briefly outbound after the highly successful bombing attack against the German Messerschmidt aircraft plant at Gotha. As the 392nd was the leading Group from the Initial Point (IP) onto the bomb run of all the Division's B-24 Groups, after having identified correctly this proper turn-in point in the face of a navigation error made by preceding Liberator units leading the bomber stream which were then steering off-course, the 392nd up front was taking the full brunt of these fighter attacks. Shortly after the bomb run, the White aircraft, as an element leader in the High Block, was heavily damaged and set afire necessitating this aircrew to abandon this severely crippled ship. The time by eye witness accounts was 1338 hours, (17) minutes after 'bombs away' on target. This plane's position then was noted to be at 50-37N, 09-40E. One aircrew reported seeing (3) parachutes from the White ship, however, ten crew members did bail out successfully from this aircraft as later verified, all but one of whom were taken as POWs.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The Radio Operator, Sgt. Wenzlaff, was the only member who perished in this crew emergency. Later accounts by the Co-Pilot on release from POW status, stated that Sgt. Wenzlaff was last seen under the main flight deck trying to operate the bomb bay manual hydraulic release handle. He was reported to have his clothing on fire but was alive at this time. It was further noted in this account that the Radio Operator had given a hand salute, but could then not be reached due to the severe fire raging below the flight deck. Later, this same report by the Co-Pilot stated that through a German report while he was prisoner in Stalag Luft 1 it was learned that the deceased crewmember had been buried near a small village near Gotha. Other observations made in this same account also covered the fact that the Co-Pilot had gone down onto the bomb bay catwalk in an attempt to fight the flames, but had to return to advise the Pilot that such was impossible, following which the bailout order was given. The Co-Pilot was wounded and suffered from temporary blindness from the fire effects following his bail out though he did observe (9) parachutes still in the air as the ship crashed into the small town of Westersheofen. This account by the Co-Pilot's in having seen the Radio Operator during the crew emergency was later acknowledged to be the only one from any crewmember who remembered seeing this crew man during and after the event. The crew member who perished in this emergency must have somehow managed a bail out of the stricken ship since the above report appears to account for a total of (10) parachutes being in the air at the time of the plane's crash (including the Co-Pilot's?). The German reports attached with the MACR, #KU974, dated 24 February 1944, accounts for the (9) men taken POW, and also the name of the tenth man, Sgt. Wenzlaff, who was probably found dead in his parachute).
BURIAL RECORDS: There are no German, or later, any record on any U.S. National Cemetery burial or missing listing on Sgt. Wenzlaff in this MACR. The Co-Pilot's account, however, mentions that this crewmember reportedly was buried in a small village cemetery near Gotha. That is all that is known from official records. This mission was the crew's tenth.
Crew of "The Sky Shark"
1st/Lt. Robert K. White Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. William T. Cheairs Jr Co Pilot POW
Navigator 2nd/Lt. Fred W. Bennett POW
2nd Lt.Horton L. Fross Bombardier POW
Engineer S/Sgt. Lewis J. Martin, Jr POW
T/Sgt. Richard W. Wenzlaff Radio Op. KIA
Gunner S/Sgt. Charles L. Baldwin, POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Carlos H. Jackson POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Lloyd J Burns POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Peter Kost POW
Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin
Squadron:578th BS 392nd Bomb Group
Service # 36253583
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Robert K. White POW
Target: GOTHA
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:02945
Date Lost: 24-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-29192
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:"X"
Aircraft Name:"The Sky Shark" 4th Mission
Location: crashed into the small town of Westersheofen.
Cause: fierce and aggressive enemy fighter attacks
Crew of 10 1KIA 9 POW
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
The 392d Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 24 February 1944.
This mission was to go down in the annals of bombardment aerial warfare history as one of the most vital strikes ever made in World War II against Germany. The 392nd was to play the most important role in leading (6) of the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 Groups to the correct target when the leading Combat Wing of (3) Liberator Groups made a critical navigational error and turned to an incorrect attack heading thus, turning a near-disastrous mission for the Division into one of the most successful ever executed. The 392nd losses would be extremely heavy this day from some of the most fierce and relentless enemy fighter attacks ever encountered for such a long period of time over 21/2 hours into and from the target area. The following summaries taken from the Group's tactical mission records relates in small measure the history of that raid the 'Battle of Gotha'.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: The entire Group, and Second Air Division bomber stream, underwent fierce and aggressive enemy fighter attacks enroute to and over the target and briefly outbound after the highly successful bombing attack against the German Messerschmidt aircraft plant at Gotha. As the 392nd was the leading Group from the Initial Point (IP) onto the bomb run of all the Division's B-24 Groups, after having identified correctly this proper turn-in point in the face of a navigation error made by preceding Liberator units leading the bomber stream which were then steering off-course, the 392nd up front was taking the full brunt of these fighter attacks. Shortly after the bomb run, the White aircraft, as an element leader in the High Block, was heavily damaged and set afire necessitating this aircrew to abandon this severely crippled ship. The time by eye witness accounts was 1338 hours, (17) minutes after 'bombs away' on target. This plane's position then was noted to be at 50-37N, 09-40E. One aircrew reported seeing (3) parachutes from the White ship, however, ten crew members did bail out successfully from this aircraft as later verified, all but one of whom were taken as POWs.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The Radio Operator, Sgt. Wenzlaff, was the only member who perished in this crew emergency. Later accounts by the Co-Pilot on release from POW status, stated that Sgt. Wenzlaff was last seen under the main flight deck trying to operate the bomb bay manual hydraulic release handle. He was reported to have his clothing on fire but was alive at this time. It was further noted in this account that the Radio Operator had given a hand salute, but could then not be reached due to the severe fire raging below the flight deck. Later, this same report by the Co-Pilot stated that through a German report while he was prisoner in Stalag Luft 1 it was learned that the deceased crewmember had been buried near a small village near Gotha. Other observations made in this same account also covered the fact that the Co-Pilot had gone down onto the bomb bay catwalk in an attempt to fight the flames, but had to return to advise the Pilot that such was impossible, following which the bailout order was given. The Co-Pilot was wounded and suffered from temporary blindness from the fire effects following his bail out though he did observe (9) parachutes still in the air as the ship crashed into the small town of Westersheofen. This account by the Co-Pilot's in having seen the Radio Operator during the crew emergency was later acknowledged to be the only one from any crewmember who remembered seeing this crew man during and after the event. The crew member who perished in this emergency must have somehow managed a bail out of the stricken ship since the above report appears to account for a total of (10) parachutes being in the air at the time of the plane's crash (including the Co-Pilot's?). The German reports attached with the MACR, #KU974, dated 24 February 1944, accounts for the (9) men taken POW, and also the name of the tenth man, Sgt. Wenzlaff, who was probably found dead in his parachute).
BURIAL RECORDS: There are no German, or later, any record on any U.S. National Cemetery burial or missing listing on Sgt. Wenzlaff in this MACR. The Co-Pilot's account, however, mentions that this crewmember reportedly was buried in a small village cemetery near Gotha. That is all that is known from official records. This mission was the crew's tenth.
Crew of "The Sky Shark"
1st/Lt. Robert K. White Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. William T. Cheairs Jr Co Pilot POW
Navigator 2nd/Lt. Fred W. Bennett POW
2nd Lt.Horton L. Fross Bombardier POW
Engineer S/Sgt. Lewis J. Martin, Jr POW
T/Sgt. Richard W. Wenzlaff Radio Op. KIA
Gunner S/Sgt. Charles L. Baldwin, POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Carlos H. Jackson POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Lloyd J Burns POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Peter Kost POW
Radio Op. T/Sgt. Richard W. Wenzlaff, KIA
Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin
Squadron:578th BS 392nd Bomb Group
Service # 36253583
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Robert K. White POW
Target: GOTHA
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:02945
Date Lost: 24-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-29192
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:"X"
Aircraft Name:"The Sky Shark" 4th Mission
Location: crashed into the small town of Westersheofen.
Cause: fierce and aggressive enemy fighter attacks
Crew of 10 1KIA 9 POW
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
The 392d Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 24 February 1944.
This mission was to go down in the annals of bombardment aerial warfare history as one of the most vital strikes ever made in World War II against Germany. The 392nd was to play the most important role in leading (6) of the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 Groups to the correct target when the leading Combat Wing of (3) Liberator Groups made a critical navigational error and turned to an incorrect attack heading thus, turning a near-disastrous mission for the Division into one of the most successful ever executed. The 392nd losses would be extremely heavy this day from some of the most fierce and relentless enemy fighter attacks ever encountered for such a long period of time over 21/2 hours into and from the target area. The following summaries taken from the Group's tactical mission records relates in small measure the history of that raid the 'Battle of Gotha'.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: The entire Group, and Second Air Division bomber stream, underwent fierce and aggressive enemy fighter attacks enroute to and over the target and briefly outbound after the highly successful bombing attack against the German Messerschmidt aircraft plant at Gotha. As the 392nd was the leading Group from the Initial Point (IP) onto the bomb run of all the Division's B-24 Groups, after having identified correctly this proper turn-in point in the face of a navigation error made by preceding Liberator units leading the bomber stream which were then steering off-course, the 392nd up front was taking the full brunt of these fighter attacks. Shortly after the bomb run, the White aircraft, as an element leader in the High Block, was heavily damaged and set afire necessitating this aircrew to abandon this severely crippled ship. The time by eye witness accounts was 1338 hours, (17) minutes after 'bombs away' on target. This plane's position then was noted to be at 50-37N, 09-40E. One aircrew reported seeing (3) parachutes from the White ship, however, ten crew members did bail out successfully from this aircraft as later verified, all but one of whom were taken as POWs.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The Radio Operator, Sgt. Wenzlaff, was the only member who perished in this crew emergency. Later accounts by the Co-Pilot on release from POW status, stated that Sgt. Wenzlaff was last seen under the main flight deck trying to operate the bomb bay manual hydraulic release handle. He was reported to have his clothing on fire but was alive at this time. It was further noted in this account that the Radio Operator had given a hand salute, but could then not be reached due to the severe fire raging below the flight deck. Later, this same report by the Co-Pilot stated that through a German report while he was prisoner in Stalag Luft 1 it was learned that the deceased crewmember had been buried near a small village near Gotha. Other observations made in this same account also covered the fact that the Co-Pilot had gone down onto the bomb bay catwalk in an attempt to fight the flames, but had to return to advise the Pilot that such was impossible, following which the bailout order was given. The Co-Pilot was wounded and suffered from temporary blindness from the fire effects following his bail out though he did observe (9) parachutes still in the air as the ship crashed into the small town of Westersheofen. This account by the Co-Pilot's in having seen the Radio Operator during the crew emergency was later acknowledged to be the only one from any crewmember who remembered seeing this crew man during and after the event. The crew member who perished in this emergency must have somehow managed a bail out of the stricken ship since the above report appears to account for a total of (10) parachutes being in the air at the time of the plane's crash (including the Co-Pilot's?). The German reports attached with the MACR, #KU974, dated 24 February 1944, accounts for the (9) men taken POW, and also the name of the tenth man, Sgt. Wenzlaff, who was probably found dead in his parachute).
BURIAL RECORDS: There are no German, or later, any record on any U.S. National Cemetery burial or missing listing on Sgt. Wenzlaff in this MACR. The Co-Pilot's account, however, mentions that this crewmember reportedly was buried in a small village cemetery near Gotha. That is all that is known from official records. This mission was the crew's tenth.
Crew of "The Sky Shark"
1st/Lt. Robert K. White Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. William T. Cheairs Jr Co Pilot POW
Navigator 2nd/Lt. Fred W. Bennett POW
2nd Lt.Horton L. Fross Bombardier POW
Engineer S/Sgt. Lewis J. Martin, Jr POW
T/Sgt. Richard W. Wenzlaff Radio Op. KIA
Gunner S/Sgt. Charles L. Baldwin, POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Carlos H. Jackson POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Lloyd J Burns POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Peter Kost POW
Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin
Squadron:578th BS 392nd Bomb Group
Service # 36253583
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Robert K. White POW
Target: GOTHA
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:02945
Date Lost: 24-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-29192
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:"X"
Aircraft Name:"The Sky Shark" 4th Mission
Location: crashed into the small town of Westersheofen.
Cause: fierce and aggressive enemy fighter attacks
Crew of 10 1KIA 9 POW
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
The 392d Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 24 February 1944.
This mission was to go down in the annals of bombardment aerial warfare history as one of the most vital strikes ever made in World War II against Germany. The 392nd was to play the most important role in leading (6) of the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 Groups to the correct target when the leading Combat Wing of (3) Liberator Groups made a critical navigational error and turned to an incorrect attack heading thus, turning a near-disastrous mission for the Division into one of the most successful ever executed. The 392nd losses would be extremely heavy this day from some of the most fierce and relentless enemy fighter attacks ever encountered for such a long period of time over 21/2 hours into and from the target area. The following summaries taken from the Group's tactical mission records relates in small measure the history of that raid the 'Battle of Gotha'.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: The entire Group, and Second Air Division bomber stream, underwent fierce and aggressive enemy fighter attacks enroute to and over the target and briefly outbound after the highly successful bombing attack against the German Messerschmidt aircraft plant at Gotha. As the 392nd was the leading Group from the Initial Point (IP) onto the bomb run of all the Division's B-24 Groups, after having identified correctly this proper turn-in point in the face of a navigation error made by preceding Liberator units leading the bomber stream which were then steering off-course, the 392nd up front was taking the full brunt of these fighter attacks. Shortly after the bomb run, the White aircraft, as an element leader in the High Block, was heavily damaged and set afire necessitating this aircrew to abandon this severely crippled ship. The time by eye witness accounts was 1338 hours, (17) minutes after 'bombs away' on target. This plane's position then was noted to be at 50-37N, 09-40E. One aircrew reported seeing (3) parachutes from the White ship, however, ten crew members did bail out successfully from this aircraft as later verified, all but one of whom were taken as POWs.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: The Radio Operator, Sgt. Wenzlaff, was the only member who perished in this crew emergency. Later accounts by the Co-Pilot on release from POW status, stated that Sgt. Wenzlaff was last seen under the main flight deck trying to operate the bomb bay manual hydraulic release handle. He was reported to have his clothing on fire but was alive at this time. It was further noted in this account that the Radio Operator had given a hand salute, but could then not be reached due to the severe fire raging below the flight deck. Later, this same report by the Co-Pilot stated that through a German report while he was prisoner in Stalag Luft 1 it was learned that the deceased crewmember had been buried near a small village near Gotha. Other observations made in this same account also covered the fact that the Co-Pilot had gone down onto the bomb bay catwalk in an attempt to fight the flames, but had to return to advise the Pilot that such was impossible, following which the bailout order was given. The Co-Pilot was wounded and suffered from temporary blindness from the fire effects following his bail out though he did observe (9) parachutes still in the air as the ship crashed into the small town of Westersheofen. This account by the Co-Pilot's in having seen the Radio Operator during the crew emergency was later acknowledged to be the only one from any crewmember who remembered seeing this crew man during and after the event. The crew member who perished in this emergency must have somehow managed a bail out of the stricken ship since the above report appears to account for a total of (10) parachutes being in the air at the time of the plane's crash (including the Co-Pilot's?). The German reports attached with the MACR, #KU974, dated 24 February 1944, accounts for the (9) men taken POW, and also the name of the tenth man, Sgt. Wenzlaff, who was probably found dead in his parachute).
BURIAL RECORDS: There are no German, or later, any record on any U.S. National Cemetery burial or missing listing on Sgt. Wenzlaff in this MACR. The Co-Pilot's account, however, mentions that this crewmember reportedly was buried in a small village cemetery near Gotha. That is all that is known from official records. This mission was the crew's tenth.
Crew of "The Sky Shark"
1st/Lt. Robert K. White Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. William T. Cheairs Jr Co Pilot POW
Navigator 2nd/Lt. Fred W. Bennett POW
2nd Lt.Horton L. Fross Bombardier POW
Engineer S/Sgt. Lewis J. Martin, Jr POW
T/Sgt. Richard W. Wenzlaff Radio Op. KIA
Gunner S/Sgt. Charles L. Baldwin, POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Carlos H. Jackson POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Lloyd J Burns POW
Gunner S/Sgt. Peter Kost POW
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