USAAF WW2
Co Pilot Fl/Of. Arthur W. Callahan POW
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
Squadron: 66th BS 44 Bomb Group
Service # T-190576
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Thomas B. Hobson POW

MACR #9022
Target: Airframe Plant for Messerschmitts, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Mission Date : 1-Oct-43
Serial Number:#42-72877
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Cause: fighter attack
Location:

Second North African Tour of Operations. Exactly two months after Ploesti, the 44th Bomb Group attacked an assembly plant and suffered many casualties. The official records reported that eight planes lost, but later it was learned that one crew had landed at Bari, Italy.

The second of the two 66th Squadron aircraft lost was that piloted by lst Lt. Thomas B. Hobson. Lt. Hobson stated, "Bad weather was a great hampering factor, with 10/10th cloud cover up to the target. A small hole in the clouds that was too small for a completely successful bomb run, was found so the bombs were dropped, but with poor results.
"Our intercom was knocked out in the first fighter attack, so we had no contact with the rear or nose section. #4 engine was hit, also in the first attack, and a fire started in the wing behind it. The tail section was hit at this time as well I believe, since the controls became sloppy. A climb to the right began, which could not be controlled with our #4 engine feathered and #3 engine
redlined (maximum power)

"During this time, we received two more attacks by fighters lined up abreast, 6 to a formation, and further hits were encountered in the nose and cockpit. Our autopilot controls also were knocked out. We stalled, followed by a spin, which
could not be broken by the later feathering of engines #1 and #2. "The spin was violent until flaps were lowered, permitting the spin to be flattened and gentle, but no recovery. However, free and easy movement was now possible, so I put on my chute and left through the bomb bay, estimating my altitude at this time to be about 5,000 feet. All bailed out except the four who were believed already dead – Millward, Kallal, Williams, and Dunn."
"Lt. Dunn was last seen by Lt. Hyde to be in good condition, but for some unknown reason he apparently did not jump. "Tuttle was the first man to leave the ship, followed by myself and later, Popovich. Lt. Hyde was experiencing some difficulty with his chute and finally exited through the nose wheel door, and landed about 1,000 feet from me. The surviving waist gunner (Popovich) landed in the same area, so I assume that he left immediately after the bail out signal, too. "I landed about 50 feet off of my ship's left wing, after seeing it hit the ground and start burning all over within a few seconds. The right tail surfaces were almost completely gone, accounting for the lack of control. "During the several enemy attacks, our ship was continually returning fire. Guns were firing from the nose, ball, and waist positions. Hits were observed on two fighters in the first attack and another one in the second. No hits were seen in the third one."

#42-72877 Crew
1st/Lt. Thomas B. Hobson Jr. Pilot POW
1st/Lt. Arthur W. Callahan Co Pilot
POW
1st/Lt. Thomas I. Hyde Navigator POW
1st/Lt. Robert Dunn Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Earnest J. Cutshall Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Richard E Tuttle Radio Op. POW
T/Sgt. Richard H. Williams Gunner
S/Sgt. Lawrence B. Kallal Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Nicholas Popovich Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Warren F. Millward Gunner KIA