Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Robert B. Seifert MIA/KIA
4 OCTOBER 1943
TARGET: NORTH SEA DIVERSION
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT:#00892
AIRCRAFT: #42-7481 "WHISKERS" "J-Bar" 5th Mission
This mission was one of the most notable and successful, executed by the 392nd during its early operations. The mission was a planned feint by higher headquarters to de-concentrate the German defenses, primarily fighter forces, from the main bomber waves assigned targets over the continent with the 392nd's track up over the North Sea approaches. Thirty-two (32) aircraft were dispatched with (28) flying the entire route. Four aircraft returned early for mechanical and personnel reasons. For the first time in combat, the unit encountered enemy aircraft and heavy flak defenses. Of the (3) aircraft lost that day, all were due to fighter attacks with (15) others damaged by 20MM cannon. The unit suffered the first casualties in combat on this mission; a total of (31) crewmembers MIA with an additional (6) injured.
FUERSTACKE Crew(APPERT as CP) * SQUADRON: 579th 392nd BG
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
P l/LT James A. Feuerstacke KIA
CP 2/LT Michael B. Kvorjak KIA
N 2/LT Carey E. Bratcher KIA
B 2/LT Floyd D. Smittle KIA
EnG T/S Frank H. Rorer KIA
R/O T/S George W. Rooney KIA
NG S/S Harold Giles KIA
WG S/S Edward L. Buchheit KIA
WG S/S Edward L. Buchheit KIA
WG S/S Roy G. Gray KIA
WG S/S Robert B. Seifert KIA
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: As the case in two aircrews Morpew and Smith, the loss of this aircrew and ship from eye-witness accounts: The Feurstacke aircraft was last observed falling with at least one and possibly both wings torn off after collision with an enemy fighter which had been badly damaged by our own aircraft and knocked out of control into #42-7481. The collision was followed by a violent explosion at about 10,000 feet of the Feurstacke. B-24. No parachutes were observed as the aircraft disappeared into clouds at 1026 hours. Lt. Morphew's ship also fell into #42-7481.
BURIAL RECORDS: U.S. National Cemetery records reflect the following on the WALL OF THE MISSING at each: At NETHERLANDS, (Margraten), Netherlands: Appert; Feuerstacke; Smittle; Rooney; Giles; Rorer; Bucheit; Gray; and Seifert. At CAMBRIDGE, England: The names of Kvorjak and Bratcher are inscribed on the WALL. All men were awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart, however, no medals are shown as posthumous awards for T/Sgt. Rorer.
4 OCTOBER 1943
TARGET: NORTH SEA DIVERSION
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT:#00892
AIRCRAFT: #42-7481 "WHISKERS" "J-Bar" 5th Mission
This mission was one of the most notable and successful, executed by the 392nd during its early operations. The mission was a planned feint by higher headquarters to de-concentrate the German defenses, primarily fighter forces, from the main bomber waves assigned targets over the continent with the 392nd's track up over the North Sea approaches. Thirty-two (32) aircraft were dispatched with (28) flying the entire route. Four aircraft returned early for mechanical and personnel reasons. For the first time in combat, the unit encountered enemy aircraft and heavy flak defenses. Of the (3) aircraft lost that day, all were due to fighter attacks with (15) others damaged by 20MM cannon. The unit suffered the first casualties in combat on this mission; a total of (31) crewmembers MIA with an additional (6) injured.
FUERSTACKE Crew(APPERT as CP) * SQUADRON: 579th 392nd BG
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
P l/LT James A. Feuerstacke KIA
CP 2/LT Michael B. Kvorjak KIA
N 2/LT Carey E. Bratcher KIA
B 2/LT Floyd D. Smittle KIA
EnG T/S Frank H. Rorer KIA
R/O T/S George W. Rooney KIA
NG S/S Harold Giles KIA
WG S/S Edward L. Buchheit KIA
WG S/S Edward L. Buchheit KIA
WG S/S Roy G. Gray KIA
WG S/S Robert B. Seifert KIA
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: As the case in two aircrews Morpew and Smith, the loss of this aircrew and ship from eye-witness accounts: The Feurstacke aircraft was last observed falling with at least one and possibly both wings torn off after collision with an enemy fighter which had been badly damaged by our own aircraft and knocked out of control into #42-7481. The collision was followed by a violent explosion at about 10,000 feet of the Feurstacke. B-24. No parachutes were observed as the aircraft disappeared into clouds at 1026 hours. Lt. Morphew's ship also fell into #42-7481.
BURIAL RECORDS: U.S. National Cemetery records reflect the following on the WALL OF THE MISSING at each: At NETHERLANDS, (Margraten), Netherlands: Appert; Feuerstacke; Smittle; Rooney; Giles; Rorer; Bucheit; Gray; and Seifert. At CAMBRIDGE, England: The names of Kvorjak and Bratcher are inscribed on the WALL. All men were awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart, however, no medals are shown as posthumous awards for T/Sgt. Rorer.
Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Robert B. Seifert MIA/KIA
4 OCTOBER 1943
TARGET: NORTH SEA DIVERSION
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT:#00892
AIRCRAFT: #42-7481 "WHISKERS" "J-Bar" 5th Mission
This mission was one of the most notable and successful, executed by the 392nd during its early operations. The mission was a planned feint by higher headquarters to de-concentrate the German defenses, primarily fighter forces, from the main bomber waves assigned targets over the continent with the 392nd's track up over the North Sea approaches. Thirty-two (32) aircraft were dispatched with (28) flying the entire route. Four aircraft returned early for mechanical and personnel reasons. For the first time in combat, the unit encountered enemy aircraft and heavy flak defenses. Of the (3) aircraft lost that day, all were due to fighter attacks with (15) others damaged by 20MM cannon. The unit suffered the first casualties in combat on this mission; a total of (31) crewmembers MIA with an additional (6) injured.
FUERSTACKE Crew(APPERT as CP) * SQUADRON: 579th 392nd BG
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
P l/LT James A. Feuerstacke KIA
CP 2/LT Michael B. Kvorjak KIA
N 2/LT Carey E. Bratcher KIA
B 2/LT Floyd D. Smittle KIA
EnG T/S Frank H. Rorer KIA
R/O T/S George W. Rooney KIA
NG S/S Harold Giles KIA
WG S/S Edward L. Buchheit KIA
WG S/S Edward L. Buchheit KIA
WG S/S Roy G. Gray KIA
WG S/S Robert B. Seifert KIA
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: As the case in two aircrews Morpew and Smith, the loss of this aircrew and ship from eye-witness accounts: The Feurstacke aircraft was last observed falling with at least one and possibly both wings torn off after collision with an enemy fighter which had been badly damaged by our own aircraft and knocked out of control into #42-7481. The collision was followed by a violent explosion at about 10,000 feet of the Feurstacke. B-24. No parachutes were observed as the aircraft disappeared into clouds at 1026 hours. Lt. Morphew's ship also fell into #42-7481.
BURIAL RECORDS: U.S. National Cemetery records reflect the following on the WALL OF THE MISSING at each: At NETHERLANDS, (Margraten), Netherlands: Appert; Feuerstacke; Smittle; Rooney; Giles; Rorer; Bucheit; Gray; and Seifert. At CAMBRIDGE, England: The names of Kvorjak and Bratcher are inscribed on the WALL. All men were awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart, however, no medals are shown as posthumous awards for T/Sgt. Rorer.
4 OCTOBER 1943
TARGET: NORTH SEA DIVERSION
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT:#00892
AIRCRAFT: #42-7481 "WHISKERS" "J-Bar" 5th Mission
This mission was one of the most notable and successful, executed by the 392nd during its early operations. The mission was a planned feint by higher headquarters to de-concentrate the German defenses, primarily fighter forces, from the main bomber waves assigned targets over the continent with the 392nd's track up over the North Sea approaches. Thirty-two (32) aircraft were dispatched with (28) flying the entire route. Four aircraft returned early for mechanical and personnel reasons. For the first time in combat, the unit encountered enemy aircraft and heavy flak defenses. Of the (3) aircraft lost that day, all were due to fighter attacks with (15) others damaged by 20MM cannon. The unit suffered the first casualties in combat on this mission; a total of (31) crewmembers MIA with an additional (6) injured.
FUERSTACKE Crew(APPERT as CP) * SQUADRON: 579th 392nd BG
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
P l/LT James A. Feuerstacke KIA
CP 2/LT Michael B. Kvorjak KIA
N 2/LT Carey E. Bratcher KIA
B 2/LT Floyd D. Smittle KIA
EnG T/S Frank H. Rorer KIA
R/O T/S George W. Rooney KIA
NG S/S Harold Giles KIA
WG S/S Edward L. Buchheit KIA
WG S/S Edward L. Buchheit KIA
WG S/S Roy G. Gray KIA
WG S/S Robert B. Seifert KIA
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: As the case in two aircrews Morpew and Smith, the loss of this aircrew and ship from eye-witness accounts: The Feurstacke aircraft was last observed falling with at least one and possibly both wings torn off after collision with an enemy fighter which had been badly damaged by our own aircraft and knocked out of control into #42-7481. The collision was followed by a violent explosion at about 10,000 feet of the Feurstacke. B-24. No parachutes were observed as the aircraft disappeared into clouds at 1026 hours. Lt. Morphew's ship also fell into #42-7481.
BURIAL RECORDS: U.S. National Cemetery records reflect the following on the WALL OF THE MISSING at each: At NETHERLANDS, (Margraten), Netherlands: Appert; Feuerstacke; Smittle; Rooney; Giles; Rorer; Bucheit; Gray; and Seifert. At CAMBRIDGE, England: The names of Kvorjak and Bratcher are inscribed on the WALL. All men were awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart, however, no medals are shown as posthumous awards for T/Sgt. Rorer.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Pennsylvania.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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