Staff Sergeant
32nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy
United States Army Air Forces
Service Number: 15382349
Purple Heart
Killed in Action
Gunner and flight engineer on a B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17 42-3144 Details ( Note: coordinates indicate last sighting in Austria not Yugoslavia )
Eyewitness Statements to the loss of B-17 #42-3144
Shortly after reaching the Yugoslav coast it was apparent that airplane #144, which at the time was flying spare to the #3 squadron, was having trouble keeping up with the formation. Once it was seen to drop about 1/2 mile to rear of formation. When group was hit by fighters at approximately 1030, #144 was straggling and had several passes made at 6 o'clock. From about 1030 to 1200 #144 was seen to drop back 5 or 6 times and element ahead was forced to drop back to gave cover to #144. On bomb run #144 behind at the time and 8 ME 109s made a pass from 6 o'clock. #144 was seen to nose up and then go into tight spin with pieces breaking from left wing. Ship was followed to approximately 15000 feet where it flattened spin out slightly but then it was lost to sight. Exact location of the plane when last seen are 48° North 14°35 min East. I don't believe the crew had a chance for a forced landing and the crew's chances of survival are very slim. It is very doubtful that any chutes came out of the plane.
2Lt. H. D. Evans
352nd Bomb Squadron
Airplane #144's #1 engine was smoking and dropped back of formation. Ten (10) enemy fighters attacked from 5, 6 and 7 o'clock. The plane started down after the third fighter had completed his attack. Apparently the men at controls tried to straighten the plane out of its dive. When the ship snapped back to an almost level position it broke in two. Several men fell out, but no chutes were observed opening, and it is doubtful if any of the crew survived.
S/Sgt. John E. P. Mullally
Tail Gunner A/C 7446
419th Bomb Squadron
~
15TH Air Force Douglas
B-17 Flying Fortress
#42-3144 MACR 4197
10 crew-members KIA:
1Lt. Calvin C. Miller, Co-Pilot
2Lt. Paul F Belot, Jr, Bombardier
2Lt. Raymond J Reese, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Flt.Off. Joshua Adame, Navigator
SSgt. John D Dora, Radio Operator
SSgt. Edsell N Poe, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. Everett M Nicholson, Waist Gunner
Sgt. Paul Pochmursky, Tail Gunner
Sgt. Robert E Tiefenbrun
Sgt. William C Taylor
32nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy
United States Army Air Forces
Service Number: 15382349
Purple Heart
Killed in Action
Gunner and flight engineer on a B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17 42-3144 Details ( Note: coordinates indicate last sighting in Austria not Yugoslavia )
Eyewitness Statements to the loss of B-17 #42-3144
Shortly after reaching the Yugoslav coast it was apparent that airplane #144, which at the time was flying spare to the #3 squadron, was having trouble keeping up with the formation. Once it was seen to drop about 1/2 mile to rear of formation. When group was hit by fighters at approximately 1030, #144 was straggling and had several passes made at 6 o'clock. From about 1030 to 1200 #144 was seen to drop back 5 or 6 times and element ahead was forced to drop back to gave cover to #144. On bomb run #144 behind at the time and 8 ME 109s made a pass from 6 o'clock. #144 was seen to nose up and then go into tight spin with pieces breaking from left wing. Ship was followed to approximately 15000 feet where it flattened spin out slightly but then it was lost to sight. Exact location of the plane when last seen are 48° North 14°35 min East. I don't believe the crew had a chance for a forced landing and the crew's chances of survival are very slim. It is very doubtful that any chutes came out of the plane.
2Lt. H. D. Evans
352nd Bomb Squadron
Airplane #144's #1 engine was smoking and dropped back of formation. Ten (10) enemy fighters attacked from 5, 6 and 7 o'clock. The plane started down after the third fighter had completed his attack. Apparently the men at controls tried to straighten the plane out of its dive. When the ship snapped back to an almost level position it broke in two. Several men fell out, but no chutes were observed opening, and it is doubtful if any of the crew survived.
S/Sgt. John E. P. Mullally
Tail Gunner A/C 7446
419th Bomb Squadron
~
15TH Air Force Douglas
B-17 Flying Fortress
#42-3144 MACR 4197
10 crew-members KIA:
1Lt. Calvin C. Miller, Co-Pilot
2Lt. Paul F Belot, Jr, Bombardier
2Lt. Raymond J Reese, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Flt.Off. Joshua Adame, Navigator
SSgt. John D Dora, Radio Operator
SSgt. Edsell N Poe, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. Everett M Nicholson, Waist Gunner
Sgt. Paul Pochmursky, Tail Gunner
Sgt. Robert E Tiefenbrun
Sgt. William C Taylor
Staff Sergeant
32nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy
United States Army Air Forces
Service Number: 15382349
Purple Heart
Killed in Action
Gunner and flight engineer on a B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17 42-3144 Details ( Note: coordinates indicate last sighting in Austria not Yugoslavia )
Eyewitness Statements to the loss of B-17 #42-3144
Shortly after reaching the Yugoslav coast it was apparent that airplane #144, which at the time was flying spare to the #3 squadron, was having trouble keeping up with the formation. Once it was seen to drop about 1/2 mile to rear of formation. When group was hit by fighters at approximately 1030, #144 was straggling and had several passes made at 6 o'clock. From about 1030 to 1200 #144 was seen to drop back 5 or 6 times and element ahead was forced to drop back to gave cover to #144. On bomb run #144 behind at the time and 8 ME 109s made a pass from 6 o'clock. #144 was seen to nose up and then go into tight spin with pieces breaking from left wing. Ship was followed to approximately 15000 feet where it flattened spin out slightly but then it was lost to sight. Exact location of the plane when last seen are 48° North 14°35 min East. I don't believe the crew had a chance for a forced landing and the crew's chances of survival are very slim. It is very doubtful that any chutes came out of the plane.
2Lt. H. D. Evans
352nd Bomb Squadron
Airplane #144's #1 engine was smoking and dropped back of formation. Ten (10) enemy fighters attacked from 5, 6 and 7 o'clock. The plane started down after the third fighter had completed his attack. Apparently the men at controls tried to straighten the plane out of its dive. When the ship snapped back to an almost level position it broke in two. Several men fell out, but no chutes were observed opening, and it is doubtful if any of the crew survived.
S/Sgt. John E. P. Mullally
Tail Gunner A/C 7446
419th Bomb Squadron
~
15TH Air Force Douglas
B-17 Flying Fortress
#42-3144 MACR 4197
10 crew-members KIA:
1Lt. Calvin C. Miller, Co-Pilot
2Lt. Paul F Belot, Jr, Bombardier
2Lt. Raymond J Reese, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Flt.Off. Joshua Adame, Navigator
SSgt. John D Dora, Radio Operator
SSgt. Edsell N Poe, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. Everett M Nicholson, Waist Gunner
Sgt. Paul Pochmursky, Tail Gunner
Sgt. Robert E Tiefenbrun
Sgt. William C Taylor
32nd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy
United States Army Air Forces
Service Number: 15382349
Purple Heart
Killed in Action
Gunner and flight engineer on a B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17 42-3144 Details ( Note: coordinates indicate last sighting in Austria not Yugoslavia )
Eyewitness Statements to the loss of B-17 #42-3144
Shortly after reaching the Yugoslav coast it was apparent that airplane #144, which at the time was flying spare to the #3 squadron, was having trouble keeping up with the formation. Once it was seen to drop about 1/2 mile to rear of formation. When group was hit by fighters at approximately 1030, #144 was straggling and had several passes made at 6 o'clock. From about 1030 to 1200 #144 was seen to drop back 5 or 6 times and element ahead was forced to drop back to gave cover to #144. On bomb run #144 behind at the time and 8 ME 109s made a pass from 6 o'clock. #144 was seen to nose up and then go into tight spin with pieces breaking from left wing. Ship was followed to approximately 15000 feet where it flattened spin out slightly but then it was lost to sight. Exact location of the plane when last seen are 48° North 14°35 min East. I don't believe the crew had a chance for a forced landing and the crew's chances of survival are very slim. It is very doubtful that any chutes came out of the plane.
2Lt. H. D. Evans
352nd Bomb Squadron
Airplane #144's #1 engine was smoking and dropped back of formation. Ten (10) enemy fighters attacked from 5, 6 and 7 o'clock. The plane started down after the third fighter had completed his attack. Apparently the men at controls tried to straighten the plane out of its dive. When the ship snapped back to an almost level position it broke in two. Several men fell out, but no chutes were observed opening, and it is doubtful if any of the crew survived.
S/Sgt. John E. P. Mullally
Tail Gunner A/C 7446
419th Bomb Squadron
~
15TH Air Force Douglas
B-17 Flying Fortress
#42-3144 MACR 4197
10 crew-members KIA:
1Lt. Calvin C. Miller, Co-Pilot
2Lt. Paul F Belot, Jr, Bombardier
2Lt. Raymond J Reese, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Flt.Off. Joshua Adame, Navigator
SSgt. John D Dora, Radio Operator
SSgt. Edsell N Poe, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. Everett M Nicholson, Waist Gunner
Sgt. Paul Pochmursky, Tail Gunner
Sgt. Robert E Tiefenbrun
Sgt. William C Taylor
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