Engineer S/Sgt. Harold A. Bryant KIA
Hometown: Snyder, Texas
Squadron: 578th 392th Bomb Group
Service# 38369309
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Travis W. Griffin POW

Target: LEIPHEIM
Missing Aircrew Report: #04362
Date Lost: 24-Apr-44
Serial Number: #41-28688
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "Q-Bar"
Aircraft Name:(NO NICKNAME) 18th Mission
Location: southwest of Freudenstadt Germany
Cause: direct hit from AA Crew of 10 2KIA 8POW

Briefing for (28) crews was conducted between 0430-0500 hours with (26) aircraft beginning take-off at 0900. Lieutenants Colburn and Zacarelli of the 577th and 578th Squadrons were assigned lead Bombardier tasks. The 392nd was scheduled to follow the 96th Combat Wing B-24s this day as its sister 14th Combat Wing group the 44th was completely grounded due to an outbreak of ptomaine poisoning. While no enemy aircraft were encountered, the AA fire experienced was light but accurate

MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Returning crew members (Lts. Sabourin, Filkel, and Weinheimer) gave the following eye-witness account of this aircrew loss: At approximately 1330 hours, the Griffin plane left the formation before reaching the target with (2) engines out, reported to be due to mechanical failure. The plane was under control but losing altitude gradually and was headed in the general direction of Switzerland escorted by (3) P-47's. German Report #KU1603, 25 April 1944, Airbase Command A7NII, Freiburg, reported the crash of this Liberator at 1347 hours, (12) kilometers southwest of Freudenstadt near Schappach, Schwarzwald (Black Forest) with (8) crew members being captured in same vicinity and (2) others found dead.

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: Later after repatriation from POW status, Sgt. Kelly was interrogated by the Intelligence Section at Selfridge Field, Michigan (a l/Lt. Roeder) and the crewmember gave this account of their mission mishap: That due to mechanical failures of three engines, #2, #1 and #3 in that order, their plane was unable to hold bomber formation position or altitude which resulted in all members abandoning ship over Freiburg, Germany. All crewmen successfully bailed out including the two deceased members. Sgt. Bryant's chute was observed as open, but Sgt Gallup was not seen after he left the aircraft. This report was the only one available from any crewmember made after war's end. The German on-scene report noted that the captured members were sent on to Dulag-Luft, Oberursel on 26 April 1944 for interrogation processing. (Note: No indication further was given on the possibility of the engine failures being caused possibly by enemy actions, or perhaps, contributing fuel management problems).

BURIAL RECORDS: The German Report above mentioned the burials of Sgts. Bryant and Gallup in the community cemetery of Hornberg-Schwarzwald on 26 April 1944 at 1700 hours. Only Sgt. Gallup is listed in any overseas U.S. National Military Cemeteries that of LORRAINE, Grave K-i 8-29, for re-burial subsequently. He is listed as having a Purple Heart citation. S/Sgt Bryant is buried in Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery, Section R Site 65.

Crew of 44-40105
2nd/Lt. Travis W. Griffin Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Quentin M. Coyle Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. John B. Griel Navigator POW
2nd/Lt. Clarence A. Parr, Jr Bombardier POW
S/Sgt. Harold A. Bryant Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Charles W. Mikalian Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Eugene M. Gallup Gunner KIA
Sgt. James P. Hankins Jr. Gunner POW
Sgt. John L. Kelly Gunner POW
Sgt. James F. Peters Gunner POW

Engineer S/Sgt. Harold A. Bryant KIA
Hometown: Snyder, Texas
Squadron: 578th 392th Bomb Group
Service# 38369309
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Travis W. Griffin POW

Target: LEIPHEIM
Missing Aircrew Report: #04362
Date Lost: 24-Apr-44
Serial Number: #41-28688
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "Q-Bar"
Aircraft Name:(NO NICKNAME) 18th Mission
Location: southwest of Freudenstadt Germany
Cause: direct hit from AA Crew of 10 2KIA 8POW

Briefing for (28) crews was conducted between 0430-0500 hours with (26) aircraft beginning take-off at 0900. Lieutenants Colburn and Zacarelli of the 577th and 578th Squadrons were assigned lead Bombardier tasks. The 392nd was scheduled to follow the 96th Combat Wing B-24s this day as its sister 14th Combat Wing group the 44th was completely grounded due to an outbreak of ptomaine poisoning. While no enemy aircraft were encountered, the AA fire experienced was light but accurate

MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Returning crew members (Lts. Sabourin, Filkel, and Weinheimer) gave the following eye-witness account of this aircrew loss: At approximately 1330 hours, the Griffin plane left the formation before reaching the target with (2) engines out, reported to be due to mechanical failure. The plane was under control but losing altitude gradually and was headed in the general direction of Switzerland escorted by (3) P-47's. German Report #KU1603, 25 April 1944, Airbase Command A7NII, Freiburg, reported the crash of this Liberator at 1347 hours, (12) kilometers southwest of Freudenstadt near Schappach, Schwarzwald (Black Forest) with (8) crew members being captured in same vicinity and (2) others found dead.

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: Later after repatriation from POW status, Sgt. Kelly was interrogated by the Intelligence Section at Selfridge Field, Michigan (a l/Lt. Roeder) and the crewmember gave this account of their mission mishap: That due to mechanical failures of three engines, #2, #1 and #3 in that order, their plane was unable to hold bomber formation position or altitude which resulted in all members abandoning ship over Freiburg, Germany. All crewmen successfully bailed out including the two deceased members. Sgt. Bryant's chute was observed as open, but Sgt Gallup was not seen after he left the aircraft. This report was the only one available from any crewmember made after war's end. The German on-scene report noted that the captured members were sent on to Dulag-Luft, Oberursel on 26 April 1944 for interrogation processing. (Note: No indication further was given on the possibility of the engine failures being caused possibly by enemy actions, or perhaps, contributing fuel management problems).

BURIAL RECORDS: The German Report above mentioned the burials of Sgts. Bryant and Gallup in the community cemetery of Hornberg-Schwarzwald on 26 April 1944 at 1700 hours. Only Sgt. Gallup is listed in any overseas U.S. National Military Cemeteries that of LORRAINE, Grave K-i 8-29, for re-burial subsequently. He is listed as having a Purple Heart citation. S/Sgt Bryant is buried in Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery, Section R Site 65.

Crew of 44-40105
2nd/Lt. Travis W. Griffin Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Quentin M. Coyle Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. John B. Griel Navigator POW
2nd/Lt. Clarence A. Parr, Jr Bombardier POW
S/Sgt. Harold A. Bryant Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Charles W. Mikalian Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Eugene M. Gallup Gunner KIA
Sgt. James P. Hankins Jr. Gunner POW
Sgt. John L. Kelly Gunner POW
Sgt. James F. Peters Gunner POW