USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner SGT. Nelson E. Brott Evadee, returned
Hometown: Troy, New York
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 39917713
Awards: Air Medal
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Bernard J. Komasinski Evadee, returned
MACR #8080
Target: La Perth Airfield, Romilly, France
Mission Date: 8-Aug-44
Serial Number:#42-100415
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-Y
Aircraft Name: MY PEACH
Location: 60 miles east of Paris
Cause: Engine failure
Crew of 10 2POW 9 Evadee, returned
The target was hit visually with excellent results. Our fighters provided excellent coverage. However, one 506th Squadron aircraft went down shortly after the target. The crew was observed to bail our approximately 60 miles east of Paris.
The MACR variously reported this ship with #1 and #4 engines out. Then #2 engine caught on fire shortly after the target. Crew bailed out approximately 60 miles east of Paris while the plane itself, apparently on AFCE (autopilot) continued on in flight, burning.
Frank Schaeffer, Engineer, remembers: "The mission was delayed for several hours because of the ground fog. This was our sixth mission.
"Because the prop governor was faulty on #2 engine, I was told to stay on the flight deck to monitor the engine RPMs with the synchronizing switch. Sgt. Nelson Brott took my place in the top turret. One of our gun positions was left unmanned.
"As I recall, there was little to no flak up to the point of the target area. While on the bomb run and with the bomb bay doors open, the #2 engine began to speed up and the synchronizing switch would not slow it down. We had a runaway prop that was turning over at 4500 RPMs. Our co-pilot, Gilbert, operated the fathering button and closed the throttles, but the propeller would not feather.
"I went to the forward end of the bomb bay to turn off the fuel selector valve and booster pump switch to that engine. But the engine continued to run wild and the oil pressure went to zero. The engine continued to howl and shake violently. I was afraid the prop would come off and fly right through the fuselage. By that time we had reached the target and the bombardier, Lain, had released the bombs. I had dropped my flak suit and removed my helmet, head set, oxygen mask and gloves in order to more easily cope with that runaway engine.
"I heard no bailout order or bell. Suddenly, the co-pilot raised out of his seat and headed back. With my parachute snapped on, I tapped Brott, who was in the top turret, on the knee and motioned for him to come down. Then I got into the bomb bay and suddenly thought that, because I had not heard any bailout signal, I'd be the first one out. In order to get out of way of others, I swung out and around the bomb rack in order to move back on the catwalk. With the chest pack on I could not go along the catwalk between the bomb racks.
"When I made my move around the bomb rack, the handle of my ripcord caught on a bomb shackle and it pulled out about ¾ inch. I pushed it back in, but the damage had been done. The chute started to spill out. I started to bundle the folds of my chute in my arms. However, the wind going through the ship spilled even more of the chute onto the catwalk. Frantically, I gathered the remaining folds in to my arms.
"It was now or never, so I moved to the forward end of the aft bomb bay section. There I rolled head first off the catwalk and out the right side of the bomb bay. The chute was immediately pulled out of my arms. A moment later I was swinging violently. Overhead I could see the chute fully open, but there were three rips, each about a foot long in the panels.
"While drifting down in the silence I searched for our ship. Then I saw it about a mile away flying level. There was a long trail of black smoke behind it.
While looking, I saw that one of my fellow crewmen was below me. I yelled as loud as I could, but got no answer. When I was a few thousand feet from the ground, I noticed two bicycles or motorcycles running along a road. A little lower and I could see people running out of houses and along the road. I prepared to land with my knees slightly bent. On impact my legs folded and I fell backward. Being dragged by my un-spilled chute, I quickly collapsed it. Frank managed a successful evasion, thanks to the many Frenchmen who hid and helped him.
Nelson E. Brott, right waist gunner, sent additional information, "Coley W. Richardson was assigned to our crew for that mission when our regular member, Frank La Fazia, was placed on guard duty. He was our ball turret gunner. This was our seventh mission. We had been flying at 25,000 feet, I bailed out at about 22,000, landed about 100 to 200 feet away from my co-pilot, Lt. Gippert, as we both pulled a delayed jump. Luckily, we landed in a corn field and there to greet us quite unexpectedly, were members of the French Forces of the Interior.
"They hid us in the woods away from all civilization where we had to fend for ourselves for food. We caught rabbits in snares, drained a pond, stripped, and then went into the mud and ooze to catch carp. They provided us with our civilian clothes, we threw away our dog tags, and hoped we'd never be caught as we would have been shot as spies.
"But it was only about a month until the American Forces came through near us and liberated us. What a celebration that was! Coley W. Richardson was seriously injured, eventually being evacuated back to the States on 23 December, 1944."
The following information comes from Coley Bill Richardson, Jr., Coley Richardson's son:
"After my dad was shot down, he was severely injured in a hard parachute landing. His right leg was compound fractured at the knee joint. He, too, was contacted by the French underground, but after seeing his condition, they left him. They said, 'The Nazis are your best chance for survival.' They were right. After the underground left, the Nazis captured my father. He was taken to a POW hospital and though he was roughly treated while the leg was being screwed and pinned together, he did survive."
To sum up, the entire crew bailed out and made it with a few of being injured in landing. Eight were taken care of by the French underground and became evadees while the other two were taken prisoner.
MY PEACH Crew
2nd/Lt. Bernard J. Komasinski PilotEvadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Winfield S. Gippert Jr. Co Pilot Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Edgar W. Michaels Navigator Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Charles H. Lain Bombardier Evadee, returned
S/Sgt. Frank N. Schaeffer Engineer Evadee, returned
Sgt. John H. McKee Radio Op. Evadee, returned
Sgt. Nelson E. Brott Gunner Evadee, returned
Sgt. Walter E. Bohenko Gunner Evadee, returned
S/Sgt. Coley W. Richardson Gunner Wounded, evacuated
Sgt. Stanley J. Hulewicz Gunner Evadee, returned
Gunner SGT. Nelson E. Brott Evadee, returned
Hometown: Troy, New York
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 39917713
Awards: Air Medal
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Bernard J. Komasinski Evadee, returned
MACR #8080
Target: La Perth Airfield, Romilly, France
Mission Date: 8-Aug-44
Serial Number:#42-100415
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-Y
Aircraft Name: MY PEACH
Location: 60 miles east of Paris
Cause: Engine failure
Crew of 10 2POW 9 Evadee, returned
The target was hit visually with excellent results. Our fighters provided excellent coverage. However, one 506th Squadron aircraft went down shortly after the target. The crew was observed to bail our approximately 60 miles east of Paris.
The MACR variously reported this ship with #1 and #4 engines out. Then #2 engine caught on fire shortly after the target. Crew bailed out approximately 60 miles east of Paris while the plane itself, apparently on AFCE (autopilot) continued on in flight, burning.
Frank Schaeffer, Engineer, remembers: "The mission was delayed for several hours because of the ground fog. This was our sixth mission.
"Because the prop governor was faulty on #2 engine, I was told to stay on the flight deck to monitor the engine RPMs with the synchronizing switch. Sgt. Nelson Brott took my place in the top turret. One of our gun positions was left unmanned.
"As I recall, there was little to no flak up to the point of the target area. While on the bomb run and with the bomb bay doors open, the #2 engine began to speed up and the synchronizing switch would not slow it down. We had a runaway prop that was turning over at 4500 RPMs. Our co-pilot, Gilbert, operated the fathering button and closed the throttles, but the propeller would not feather.
"I went to the forward end of the bomb bay to turn off the fuel selector valve and booster pump switch to that engine. But the engine continued to run wild and the oil pressure went to zero. The engine continued to howl and shake violently. I was afraid the prop would come off and fly right through the fuselage. By that time we had reached the target and the bombardier, Lain, had released the bombs. I had dropped my flak suit and removed my helmet, head set, oxygen mask and gloves in order to more easily cope with that runaway engine.
"I heard no bailout order or bell. Suddenly, the co-pilot raised out of his seat and headed back. With my parachute snapped on, I tapped Brott, who was in the top turret, on the knee and motioned for him to come down. Then I got into the bomb bay and suddenly thought that, because I had not heard any bailout signal, I'd be the first one out. In order to get out of way of others, I swung out and around the bomb rack in order to move back on the catwalk. With the chest pack on I could not go along the catwalk between the bomb racks.
"When I made my move around the bomb rack, the handle of my ripcord caught on a bomb shackle and it pulled out about ¾ inch. I pushed it back in, but the damage had been done. The chute started to spill out. I started to bundle the folds of my chute in my arms. However, the wind going through the ship spilled even more of the chute onto the catwalk. Frantically, I gathered the remaining folds in to my arms.
"It was now or never, so I moved to the forward end of the aft bomb bay section. There I rolled head first off the catwalk and out the right side of the bomb bay. The chute was immediately pulled out of my arms. A moment later I was swinging violently. Overhead I could see the chute fully open, but there were three rips, each about a foot long in the panels.
"While drifting down in the silence I searched for our ship. Then I saw it about a mile away flying level. There was a long trail of black smoke behind it.
While looking, I saw that one of my fellow crewmen was below me. I yelled as loud as I could, but got no answer. When I was a few thousand feet from the ground, I noticed two bicycles or motorcycles running along a road. A little lower and I could see people running out of houses and along the road. I prepared to land with my knees slightly bent. On impact my legs folded and I fell backward. Being dragged by my un-spilled chute, I quickly collapsed it. Frank managed a successful evasion, thanks to the many Frenchmen who hid and helped him.
Nelson E. Brott, right waist gunner, sent additional information, "Coley W. Richardson was assigned to our crew for that mission when our regular member, Frank La Fazia, was placed on guard duty. He was our ball turret gunner. This was our seventh mission. We had been flying at 25,000 feet, I bailed out at about 22,000, landed about 100 to 200 feet away from my co-pilot, Lt. Gippert, as we both pulled a delayed jump. Luckily, we landed in a corn field and there to greet us quite unexpectedly, were members of the French Forces of the Interior.
"They hid us in the woods away from all civilization where we had to fend for ourselves for food. We caught rabbits in snares, drained a pond, stripped, and then went into the mud and ooze to catch carp. They provided us with our civilian clothes, we threw away our dog tags, and hoped we'd never be caught as we would have been shot as spies.
"But it was only about a month until the American Forces came through near us and liberated us. What a celebration that was! Coley W. Richardson was seriously injured, eventually being evacuated back to the States on 23 December, 1944."
The following information comes from Coley Bill Richardson, Jr., Coley Richardson's son:
"After my dad was shot down, he was severely injured in a hard parachute landing. His right leg was compound fractured at the knee joint. He, too, was contacted by the French underground, but after seeing his condition, they left him. They said, 'The Nazis are your best chance for survival.' They were right. After the underground left, the Nazis captured my father. He was taken to a POW hospital and though he was roughly treated while the leg was being screwed and pinned together, he did survive."
To sum up, the entire crew bailed out and made it with a few of being injured in landing. Eight were taken care of by the French underground and became evadees while the other two were taken prisoner.
MY PEACH Crew
2nd/Lt. Bernard J. Komasinski PilotEvadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Winfield S. Gippert Jr. Co Pilot Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Edgar W. Michaels Navigator Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Charles H. Lain Bombardier Evadee, returned
S/Sgt. Frank N. Schaeffer Engineer Evadee, returned
Sgt. John H. McKee Radio Op. Evadee, returned
Sgt. Nelson E. Brott Gunner Evadee, returned
Sgt. Walter E. Bohenko Gunner Evadee, returned
S/Sgt. Coley W. Richardson Gunner Wounded, evacuated
Sgt. Stanley J. Hulewicz Gunner Evadee, returned
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner SGT. Nelson E. Brott Evadee, returned
Hometown: Troy, New York
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 39917713
Awards: Air Medal
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Bernard J. Komasinski Evadee, returned
MACR #8080
Target: La Perth Airfield, Romilly, France
Mission Date: 8-Aug-44
Serial Number:#42-100415
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-Y
Aircraft Name: MY PEACH
Location: 60 miles east of Paris
Cause: Engine failure
Crew of 10 2POW 9 Evadee, returned
The target was hit visually with excellent results. Our fighters provided excellent coverage. However, one 506th Squadron aircraft went down shortly after the target. The crew was observed to bail our approximately 60 miles east of Paris.
The MACR variously reported this ship with #1 and #4 engines out. Then #2 engine caught on fire shortly after the target. Crew bailed out approximately 60 miles east of Paris while the plane itself, apparently on AFCE (autopilot) continued on in flight, burning.
Frank Schaeffer, Engineer, remembers: "The mission was delayed for several hours because of the ground fog. This was our sixth mission.
"Because the prop governor was faulty on #2 engine, I was told to stay on the flight deck to monitor the engine RPMs with the synchronizing switch. Sgt. Nelson Brott took my place in the top turret. One of our gun positions was left unmanned.
"As I recall, there was little to no flak up to the point of the target area. While on the bomb run and with the bomb bay doors open, the #2 engine began to speed up and the synchronizing switch would not slow it down. We had a runaway prop that was turning over at 4500 RPMs. Our co-pilot, Gilbert, operated the fathering button and closed the throttles, but the propeller would not feather.
"I went to the forward end of the bomb bay to turn off the fuel selector valve and booster pump switch to that engine. But the engine continued to run wild and the oil pressure went to zero. The engine continued to howl and shake violently. I was afraid the prop would come off and fly right through the fuselage. By that time we had reached the target and the bombardier, Lain, had released the bombs. I had dropped my flak suit and removed my helmet, head set, oxygen mask and gloves in order to more easily cope with that runaway engine.
"I heard no bailout order or bell. Suddenly, the co-pilot raised out of his seat and headed back. With my parachute snapped on, I tapped Brott, who was in the top turret, on the knee and motioned for him to come down. Then I got into the bomb bay and suddenly thought that, because I had not heard any bailout signal, I'd be the first one out. In order to get out of way of others, I swung out and around the bomb rack in order to move back on the catwalk. With the chest pack on I could not go along the catwalk between the bomb racks.
"When I made my move around the bomb rack, the handle of my ripcord caught on a bomb shackle and it pulled out about ¾ inch. I pushed it back in, but the damage had been done. The chute started to spill out. I started to bundle the folds of my chute in my arms. However, the wind going through the ship spilled even more of the chute onto the catwalk. Frantically, I gathered the remaining folds in to my arms.
"It was now or never, so I moved to the forward end of the aft bomb bay section. There I rolled head first off the catwalk and out the right side of the bomb bay. The chute was immediately pulled out of my arms. A moment later I was swinging violently. Overhead I could see the chute fully open, but there were three rips, each about a foot long in the panels.
"While drifting down in the silence I searched for our ship. Then I saw it about a mile away flying level. There was a long trail of black smoke behind it.
While looking, I saw that one of my fellow crewmen was below me. I yelled as loud as I could, but got no answer. When I was a few thousand feet from the ground, I noticed two bicycles or motorcycles running along a road. A little lower and I could see people running out of houses and along the road. I prepared to land with my knees slightly bent. On impact my legs folded and I fell backward. Being dragged by my un-spilled chute, I quickly collapsed it. Frank managed a successful evasion, thanks to the many Frenchmen who hid and helped him.
Nelson E. Brott, right waist gunner, sent additional information, "Coley W. Richardson was assigned to our crew for that mission when our regular member, Frank La Fazia, was placed on guard duty. He was our ball turret gunner. This was our seventh mission. We had been flying at 25,000 feet, I bailed out at about 22,000, landed about 100 to 200 feet away from my co-pilot, Lt. Gippert, as we both pulled a delayed jump. Luckily, we landed in a corn field and there to greet us quite unexpectedly, were members of the French Forces of the Interior.
"They hid us in the woods away from all civilization where we had to fend for ourselves for food. We caught rabbits in snares, drained a pond, stripped, and then went into the mud and ooze to catch carp. They provided us with our civilian clothes, we threw away our dog tags, and hoped we'd never be caught as we would have been shot as spies.
"But it was only about a month until the American Forces came through near us and liberated us. What a celebration that was! Coley W. Richardson was seriously injured, eventually being evacuated back to the States on 23 December, 1944."
The following information comes from Coley Bill Richardson, Jr., Coley Richardson's son:
"After my dad was shot down, he was severely injured in a hard parachute landing. His right leg was compound fractured at the knee joint. He, too, was contacted by the French underground, but after seeing his condition, they left him. They said, 'The Nazis are your best chance for survival.' They were right. After the underground left, the Nazis captured my father. He was taken to a POW hospital and though he was roughly treated while the leg was being screwed and pinned together, he did survive."
To sum up, the entire crew bailed out and made it with a few of being injured in landing. Eight were taken care of by the French underground and became evadees while the other two were taken prisoner.
MY PEACH Crew
2nd/Lt. Bernard J. Komasinski PilotEvadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Winfield S. Gippert Jr. Co Pilot Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Edgar W. Michaels Navigator Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Charles H. Lain Bombardier Evadee, returned
S/Sgt. Frank N. Schaeffer Engineer Evadee, returned
Sgt. John H. McKee Radio Op. Evadee, returned
Sgt. Nelson E. Brott Gunner Evadee, returned
Sgt. Walter E. Bohenko Gunner Evadee, returned
S/Sgt. Coley W. Richardson Gunner Wounded, evacuated
Sgt. Stanley J. Hulewicz Gunner Evadee, returned
Gunner SGT. Nelson E. Brott Evadee, returned
Hometown: Troy, New York
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 39917713
Awards: Air Medal
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Bernard J. Komasinski Evadee, returned
MACR #8080
Target: La Perth Airfield, Romilly, France
Mission Date: 8-Aug-44
Serial Number:#42-100415
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-Y
Aircraft Name: MY PEACH
Location: 60 miles east of Paris
Cause: Engine failure
Crew of 10 2POW 9 Evadee, returned
The target was hit visually with excellent results. Our fighters provided excellent coverage. However, one 506th Squadron aircraft went down shortly after the target. The crew was observed to bail our approximately 60 miles east of Paris.
The MACR variously reported this ship with #1 and #4 engines out. Then #2 engine caught on fire shortly after the target. Crew bailed out approximately 60 miles east of Paris while the plane itself, apparently on AFCE (autopilot) continued on in flight, burning.
Frank Schaeffer, Engineer, remembers: "The mission was delayed for several hours because of the ground fog. This was our sixth mission.
"Because the prop governor was faulty on #2 engine, I was told to stay on the flight deck to monitor the engine RPMs with the synchronizing switch. Sgt. Nelson Brott took my place in the top turret. One of our gun positions was left unmanned.
"As I recall, there was little to no flak up to the point of the target area. While on the bomb run and with the bomb bay doors open, the #2 engine began to speed up and the synchronizing switch would not slow it down. We had a runaway prop that was turning over at 4500 RPMs. Our co-pilot, Gilbert, operated the fathering button and closed the throttles, but the propeller would not feather.
"I went to the forward end of the bomb bay to turn off the fuel selector valve and booster pump switch to that engine. But the engine continued to run wild and the oil pressure went to zero. The engine continued to howl and shake violently. I was afraid the prop would come off and fly right through the fuselage. By that time we had reached the target and the bombardier, Lain, had released the bombs. I had dropped my flak suit and removed my helmet, head set, oxygen mask and gloves in order to more easily cope with that runaway engine.
"I heard no bailout order or bell. Suddenly, the co-pilot raised out of his seat and headed back. With my parachute snapped on, I tapped Brott, who was in the top turret, on the knee and motioned for him to come down. Then I got into the bomb bay and suddenly thought that, because I had not heard any bailout signal, I'd be the first one out. In order to get out of way of others, I swung out and around the bomb rack in order to move back on the catwalk. With the chest pack on I could not go along the catwalk between the bomb racks.
"When I made my move around the bomb rack, the handle of my ripcord caught on a bomb shackle and it pulled out about ¾ inch. I pushed it back in, but the damage had been done. The chute started to spill out. I started to bundle the folds of my chute in my arms. However, the wind going through the ship spilled even more of the chute onto the catwalk. Frantically, I gathered the remaining folds in to my arms.
"It was now or never, so I moved to the forward end of the aft bomb bay section. There I rolled head first off the catwalk and out the right side of the bomb bay. The chute was immediately pulled out of my arms. A moment later I was swinging violently. Overhead I could see the chute fully open, but there were three rips, each about a foot long in the panels.
"While drifting down in the silence I searched for our ship. Then I saw it about a mile away flying level. There was a long trail of black smoke behind it.
While looking, I saw that one of my fellow crewmen was below me. I yelled as loud as I could, but got no answer. When I was a few thousand feet from the ground, I noticed two bicycles or motorcycles running along a road. A little lower and I could see people running out of houses and along the road. I prepared to land with my knees slightly bent. On impact my legs folded and I fell backward. Being dragged by my un-spilled chute, I quickly collapsed it. Frank managed a successful evasion, thanks to the many Frenchmen who hid and helped him.
Nelson E. Brott, right waist gunner, sent additional information, "Coley W. Richardson was assigned to our crew for that mission when our regular member, Frank La Fazia, was placed on guard duty. He was our ball turret gunner. This was our seventh mission. We had been flying at 25,000 feet, I bailed out at about 22,000, landed about 100 to 200 feet away from my co-pilot, Lt. Gippert, as we both pulled a delayed jump. Luckily, we landed in a corn field and there to greet us quite unexpectedly, were members of the French Forces of the Interior.
"They hid us in the woods away from all civilization where we had to fend for ourselves for food. We caught rabbits in snares, drained a pond, stripped, and then went into the mud and ooze to catch carp. They provided us with our civilian clothes, we threw away our dog tags, and hoped we'd never be caught as we would have been shot as spies.
"But it was only about a month until the American Forces came through near us and liberated us. What a celebration that was! Coley W. Richardson was seriously injured, eventually being evacuated back to the States on 23 December, 1944."
The following information comes from Coley Bill Richardson, Jr., Coley Richardson's son:
"After my dad was shot down, he was severely injured in a hard parachute landing. His right leg was compound fractured at the knee joint. He, too, was contacted by the French underground, but after seeing his condition, they left him. They said, 'The Nazis are your best chance for survival.' They were right. After the underground left, the Nazis captured my father. He was taken to a POW hospital and though he was roughly treated while the leg was being screwed and pinned together, he did survive."
To sum up, the entire crew bailed out and made it with a few of being injured in landing. Eight were taken care of by the French underground and became evadees while the other two were taken prisoner.
MY PEACH Crew
2nd/Lt. Bernard J. Komasinski PilotEvadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Winfield S. Gippert Jr. Co Pilot Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Edgar W. Michaels Navigator Evadee, returned
2nd/Lt. Charles H. Lain Bombardier Evadee, returned
S/Sgt. Frank N. Schaeffer Engineer Evadee, returned
Sgt. John H. McKee Radio Op. Evadee, returned
Sgt. Nelson E. Brott Gunner Evadee, returned
Sgt. Walter E. Bohenko Gunner Evadee, returned
S/Sgt. Coley W. Richardson Gunner Wounded, evacuated
Sgt. Stanley J. Hulewicz Gunner Evadee, returned
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