USAAF WORLD WAR II
Pilot 1st/Lt. Ted L, Weaver Injured, evaded, returned
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 0-693829
Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
MACR #7353
Target: Aircraft Factory, Bernberg, Germany
Mission Date: 7-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-99966
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: C-Bar
Aircraft Name: FULL HOUSE
Location: near Valthe, 8km north of Emmen
Cause:Enemy aircraft
Crew of 10 1KIA - 1KIA/MURDERED - 8POW
On the wallmap of Europe a red tape was stretched all the way from England to Bernberg, deep into Germany. We were briefed to expect fighters and heavy flak as the target in a fighter production area. About five minutes before r
eaching the target we were hit by fighters, approximately sixty, lined up fifteen abreast, who came in at us from 1 o’clock and slightly higher. They fired as they came in and you could see their orange 20-mm shells coming through the air. Three 68th Squadron aircraft were hit, one going down early, while the other two straggled and so were escorted by P-38s. Both were lost on the return.
E.A. Meyer, the navigator on the Rickett’s crew, wrote: “This was the day of the ‘Big Shoot.’ We could not get fighter cover because our fighters were engaged with German fighters. We were attacked by many types of enemy aircraft coming out of the sun just as we prepared to turn on the IP. Three aircraft were hit.” Rickett’s aircraft was also hit and the navigator’s window was shot out.
Rickett’s crew became the lead 68th aircraft. Some bombs hit the target, an aircraft plant, but most took out the main road through town.
The MACR for this aircraft states that hits were observed on three engines, #1, #2 and #4, all occurring on the first pass by the enemy aircraft at the IP. This plane dropped to about 15,000 feet and straggled behind the formation. It successfully withstood another attack by Me 109s and was last seen flying with another 44th BG aircraft #170 – Wilson’s. Both planes were being escorted by two P-38s when last seen. This aircraft eventually crashed near Valthe, 8 km north of Emmen at 1100 hours. Dutch records show that the call letter shown on the tail surface could be W. Ted L. Weaver sent his Recollections, “July 7th, 1944 we were on our 23rd bombing mission, which was to an airfield at Bernberg, Germany. I was flying high element lead that day and just as we were making the standard ‘S’ maneuver to maintain position of close formation during the final turn onto the bomb run, we were hit by Me 110s out of the sun at 2 o’clock, high. Between their exploding shells and the flak that we encountered at the same time, we lost three of our engines and were able to feather only one of them. The other two windmilled until they froze up, and consequently caught fire just before we abandoned ship. “Charley Harrison had been wounded in the head by an exploding flak burst inside of our ship on a previous mission [27 June 1944], so was not with us this day. Stanley G. Nalipa, who was flying substitute waist gunner for Harrison, was seriously wounded. Even though Crouse and Voigt made sure he had a firm hold on his ripcord – and was conscious when they helped him out the window and yelled for him to pull as he went out, his chute did not open. The Germans picked his body up about a mile inside of Germany from the Netherlands border.
Note: Charley Harrison’s head wound was not serious. He flew again on 16 July 1944.
“With the exception of myself, all the rest of my crew landed inside Germany and were captured. Lt. Platt, navigator, was wounded in one leg during the attacks and injured his other leg while landing with his parachute. My co-pilot, Bart Shambarger was captured by a Nazi sympathizer (NSB’r). After capturing Bart, he offered his hand in a handshake gesture. When Bart reached out his hand, the NSB’r grabbed it and jerked Bart toward him and simultaneously stabbed Bart with his bayonet. The Germans spread the story that Bart had impailed himself on a fence post during landing. Joe Gnaidek, my engineer, was shown Bart’s body right after he was killed and they told him Bart’s chute hadn’t opened.
Note: The name of the Nazi sympathizer was G.J. Trechsel.
“Bart’s body was moved after the war to the American Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. His murderer, the Dutch NSB’r, was turned in to the Allies after the war and sent to prison for eight and one-half years, then released.
“Being the ship’s commander, and therefore, the last to bail out, I landed just barely on the border of Netherlands and Germany. FULL HOUSE was so near the ground when I got out that my chute barely had time to check my velocity before I hit the ground. I injured my back, but managed to crawl to a hiding place and later that evening got into contact with the Dutch Underground. I spent nine months in German-occupied Holland before getting back to Allied
lines. All others from my crew became POWs. “Incidentally, I am reasonably certain of the circumstances of Bart’s death since I have personally visited with the Dutch farmer whose daughter witnessed it.”
Note: Ted Weaver’s wife Silvia has published a book of Ted’s experiences called “The Twenty-Third Mission.”
Other sources have informed me that this NSB’r had been hounded by the Dutch ever since his release until he is thought to have committed suicide. Too, during the 40th anniversary celebration of the liberation of the Netherlands, Lt. Shambarger was distinctly honored by the people of Holland. At their request, I sent his photo to them so that they could display it in the Place of Honor at their ceremonies.
FULL HOUSE Crew
1st/Lt. Ted L. Weaver Injured, evaded, returned Pilot
1st/Lt. Walter B. Shambarger Co Pilot KIA, murdered,
1st/Lt. Lawrence Platt Jr. Navigator POW
1st/Lt.Robert E. Reed Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Joseph S. Gniadek Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Donald F. Fahey Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. Marvin L. Crouse Gunner POW
Sgt. Stanley G. Nalipa Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Lorin L. Voigt Gunner POW
Pilot 1st/Lt. Ted L, Weaver Injured, evaded, returned
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 0-693829
Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
MACR #7353
Target: Aircraft Factory, Bernberg, Germany
Mission Date: 7-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-99966
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: C-Bar
Aircraft Name: FULL HOUSE
Location: near Valthe, 8km north of Emmen
Cause:Enemy aircraft
Crew of 10 1KIA - 1KIA/MURDERED - 8POW
On the wallmap of Europe a red tape was stretched all the way from England to Bernberg, deep into Germany. We were briefed to expect fighters and heavy flak as the target in a fighter production area. About five minutes before r
eaching the target we were hit by fighters, approximately sixty, lined up fifteen abreast, who came in at us from 1 o’clock and slightly higher. They fired as they came in and you could see their orange 20-mm shells coming through the air. Three 68th Squadron aircraft were hit, one going down early, while the other two straggled and so were escorted by P-38s. Both were lost on the return.
E.A. Meyer, the navigator on the Rickett’s crew, wrote: “This was the day of the ‘Big Shoot.’ We could not get fighter cover because our fighters were engaged with German fighters. We were attacked by many types of enemy aircraft coming out of the sun just as we prepared to turn on the IP. Three aircraft were hit.” Rickett’s aircraft was also hit and the navigator’s window was shot out.
Rickett’s crew became the lead 68th aircraft. Some bombs hit the target, an aircraft plant, but most took out the main road through town.
The MACR for this aircraft states that hits were observed on three engines, #1, #2 and #4, all occurring on the first pass by the enemy aircraft at the IP. This plane dropped to about 15,000 feet and straggled behind the formation. It successfully withstood another attack by Me 109s and was last seen flying with another 44th BG aircraft #170 – Wilson’s. Both planes were being escorted by two P-38s when last seen. This aircraft eventually crashed near Valthe, 8 km north of Emmen at 1100 hours. Dutch records show that the call letter shown on the tail surface could be W. Ted L. Weaver sent his Recollections, “July 7th, 1944 we were on our 23rd bombing mission, which was to an airfield at Bernberg, Germany. I was flying high element lead that day and just as we were making the standard ‘S’ maneuver to maintain position of close formation during the final turn onto the bomb run, we were hit by Me 110s out of the sun at 2 o’clock, high. Between their exploding shells and the flak that we encountered at the same time, we lost three of our engines and were able to feather only one of them. The other two windmilled until they froze up, and consequently caught fire just before we abandoned ship. “Charley Harrison had been wounded in the head by an exploding flak burst inside of our ship on a previous mission [27 June 1944], so was not with us this day. Stanley G. Nalipa, who was flying substitute waist gunner for Harrison, was seriously wounded. Even though Crouse and Voigt made sure he had a firm hold on his ripcord – and was conscious when they helped him out the window and yelled for him to pull as he went out, his chute did not open. The Germans picked his body up about a mile inside of Germany from the Netherlands border.
Note: Charley Harrison’s head wound was not serious. He flew again on 16 July 1944.
“With the exception of myself, all the rest of my crew landed inside Germany and were captured. Lt. Platt, navigator, was wounded in one leg during the attacks and injured his other leg while landing with his parachute. My co-pilot, Bart Shambarger was captured by a Nazi sympathizer (NSB’r). After capturing Bart, he offered his hand in a handshake gesture. When Bart reached out his hand, the NSB’r grabbed it and jerked Bart toward him and simultaneously stabbed Bart with his bayonet. The Germans spread the story that Bart had impailed himself on a fence post during landing. Joe Gnaidek, my engineer, was shown Bart’s body right after he was killed and they told him Bart’s chute hadn’t opened.
Note: The name of the Nazi sympathizer was G.J. Trechsel.
“Bart’s body was moved after the war to the American Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. His murderer, the Dutch NSB’r, was turned in to the Allies after the war and sent to prison for eight and one-half years, then released.
“Being the ship’s commander, and therefore, the last to bail out, I landed just barely on the border of Netherlands and Germany. FULL HOUSE was so near the ground when I got out that my chute barely had time to check my velocity before I hit the ground. I injured my back, but managed to crawl to a hiding place and later that evening got into contact with the Dutch Underground. I spent nine months in German-occupied Holland before getting back to Allied
lines. All others from my crew became POWs. “Incidentally, I am reasonably certain of the circumstances of Bart’s death since I have personally visited with the Dutch farmer whose daughter witnessed it.”
Note: Ted Weaver’s wife Silvia has published a book of Ted’s experiences called “The Twenty-Third Mission.”
Other sources have informed me that this NSB’r had been hounded by the Dutch ever since his release until he is thought to have committed suicide. Too, during the 40th anniversary celebration of the liberation of the Netherlands, Lt. Shambarger was distinctly honored by the people of Holland. At their request, I sent his photo to them so that they could display it in the Place of Honor at their ceremonies.
FULL HOUSE Crew
1st/Lt. Ted L. Weaver Injured, evaded, returned Pilot
1st/Lt. Walter B. Shambarger Co Pilot KIA, murdered,
1st/Lt. Lawrence Platt Jr. Navigator POW
1st/Lt.Robert E. Reed Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Joseph S. Gniadek Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Donald F. Fahey Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. Marvin L. Crouse Gunner POW
Sgt. Stanley G. Nalipa Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Lorin L. Voigt Gunner POW
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Pilot 1st/Lt. Ted L, Weaver Injured, evaded, returned
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 0-693829
Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
MACR #7353
Target: Aircraft Factory, Bernberg, Germany
Mission Date: 7-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-99966
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: C-Bar
Aircraft Name: FULL HOUSE
Location: near Valthe, 8km north of Emmen
Cause:Enemy aircraft
Crew of 10 1KIA - 1KIA/MURDERED - 8POW
On the wallmap of Europe a red tape was stretched all the way from England to Bernberg, deep into Germany. We were briefed to expect fighters and heavy flak as the target in a fighter production area. About five minutes before r
eaching the target we were hit by fighters, approximately sixty, lined up fifteen abreast, who came in at us from 1 o’clock and slightly higher. They fired as they came in and you could see their orange 20-mm shells coming through the air. Three 68th Squadron aircraft were hit, one going down early, while the other two straggled and so were escorted by P-38s. Both were lost on the return.
E.A. Meyer, the navigator on the Rickett’s crew, wrote: “This was the day of the ‘Big Shoot.’ We could not get fighter cover because our fighters were engaged with German fighters. We were attacked by many types of enemy aircraft coming out of the sun just as we prepared to turn on the IP. Three aircraft were hit.” Rickett’s aircraft was also hit and the navigator’s window was shot out.
Rickett’s crew became the lead 68th aircraft. Some bombs hit the target, an aircraft plant, but most took out the main road through town.
The MACR for this aircraft states that hits were observed on three engines, #1, #2 and #4, all occurring on the first pass by the enemy aircraft at the IP. This plane dropped to about 15,000 feet and straggled behind the formation. It successfully withstood another attack by Me 109s and was last seen flying with another 44th BG aircraft #170 – Wilson’s. Both planes were being escorted by two P-38s when last seen. This aircraft eventually crashed near Valthe, 8 km north of Emmen at 1100 hours. Dutch records show that the call letter shown on the tail surface could be W. Ted L. Weaver sent his Recollections, “July 7th, 1944 we were on our 23rd bombing mission, which was to an airfield at Bernberg, Germany. I was flying high element lead that day and just as we were making the standard ‘S’ maneuver to maintain position of close formation during the final turn onto the bomb run, we were hit by Me 110s out of the sun at 2 o’clock, high. Between their exploding shells and the flak that we encountered at the same time, we lost three of our engines and were able to feather only one of them. The other two windmilled until they froze up, and consequently caught fire just before we abandoned ship. “Charley Harrison had been wounded in the head by an exploding flak burst inside of our ship on a previous mission [27 June 1944], so was not with us this day. Stanley G. Nalipa, who was flying substitute waist gunner for Harrison, was seriously wounded. Even though Crouse and Voigt made sure he had a firm hold on his ripcord – and was conscious when they helped him out the window and yelled for him to pull as he went out, his chute did not open. The Germans picked his body up about a mile inside of Germany from the Netherlands border.
Note: Charley Harrison’s head wound was not serious. He flew again on 16 July 1944.
“With the exception of myself, all the rest of my crew landed inside Germany and were captured. Lt. Platt, navigator, was wounded in one leg during the attacks and injured his other leg while landing with his parachute. My co-pilot, Bart Shambarger was captured by a Nazi sympathizer (NSB’r). After capturing Bart, he offered his hand in a handshake gesture. When Bart reached out his hand, the NSB’r grabbed it and jerked Bart toward him and simultaneously stabbed Bart with his bayonet. The Germans spread the story that Bart had impailed himself on a fence post during landing. Joe Gnaidek, my engineer, was shown Bart’s body right after he was killed and they told him Bart’s chute hadn’t opened.
Note: The name of the Nazi sympathizer was G.J. Trechsel.
“Bart’s body was moved after the war to the American Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. His murderer, the Dutch NSB’r, was turned in to the Allies after the war and sent to prison for eight and one-half years, then released.
“Being the ship’s commander, and therefore, the last to bail out, I landed just barely on the border of Netherlands and Germany. FULL HOUSE was so near the ground when I got out that my chute barely had time to check my velocity before I hit the ground. I injured my back, but managed to crawl to a hiding place and later that evening got into contact with the Dutch Underground. I spent nine months in German-occupied Holland before getting back to Allied
lines. All others from my crew became POWs. “Incidentally, I am reasonably certain of the circumstances of Bart’s death since I have personally visited with the Dutch farmer whose daughter witnessed it.”
Note: Ted Weaver’s wife Silvia has published a book of Ted’s experiences called “The Twenty-Third Mission.”
Other sources have informed me that this NSB’r had been hounded by the Dutch ever since his release until he is thought to have committed suicide. Too, during the 40th anniversary celebration of the liberation of the Netherlands, Lt. Shambarger was distinctly honored by the people of Holland. At their request, I sent his photo to them so that they could display it in the Place of Honor at their ceremonies.
FULL HOUSE Crew
1st/Lt. Ted L. Weaver Injured, evaded, returned Pilot
1st/Lt. Walter B. Shambarger Co Pilot KIA, murdered,
1st/Lt. Lawrence Platt Jr. Navigator POW
1st/Lt.Robert E. Reed Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Joseph S. Gniadek Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Donald F. Fahey Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. Marvin L. Crouse Gunner POW
Sgt. Stanley G. Nalipa Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Lorin L. Voigt Gunner POW
Pilot 1st/Lt. Ted L, Weaver Injured, evaded, returned
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 0-693829
Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
MACR #7353
Target: Aircraft Factory, Bernberg, Germany
Mission Date: 7-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-99966
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: C-Bar
Aircraft Name: FULL HOUSE
Location: near Valthe, 8km north of Emmen
Cause:Enemy aircraft
Crew of 10 1KIA - 1KIA/MURDERED - 8POW
On the wallmap of Europe a red tape was stretched all the way from England to Bernberg, deep into Germany. We were briefed to expect fighters and heavy flak as the target in a fighter production area. About five minutes before r
eaching the target we were hit by fighters, approximately sixty, lined up fifteen abreast, who came in at us from 1 o’clock and slightly higher. They fired as they came in and you could see their orange 20-mm shells coming through the air. Three 68th Squadron aircraft were hit, one going down early, while the other two straggled and so were escorted by P-38s. Both were lost on the return.
E.A. Meyer, the navigator on the Rickett’s crew, wrote: “This was the day of the ‘Big Shoot.’ We could not get fighter cover because our fighters were engaged with German fighters. We were attacked by many types of enemy aircraft coming out of the sun just as we prepared to turn on the IP. Three aircraft were hit.” Rickett’s aircraft was also hit and the navigator’s window was shot out.
Rickett’s crew became the lead 68th aircraft. Some bombs hit the target, an aircraft plant, but most took out the main road through town.
The MACR for this aircraft states that hits were observed on three engines, #1, #2 and #4, all occurring on the first pass by the enemy aircraft at the IP. This plane dropped to about 15,000 feet and straggled behind the formation. It successfully withstood another attack by Me 109s and was last seen flying with another 44th BG aircraft #170 – Wilson’s. Both planes were being escorted by two P-38s when last seen. This aircraft eventually crashed near Valthe, 8 km north of Emmen at 1100 hours. Dutch records show that the call letter shown on the tail surface could be W. Ted L. Weaver sent his Recollections, “July 7th, 1944 we were on our 23rd bombing mission, which was to an airfield at Bernberg, Germany. I was flying high element lead that day and just as we were making the standard ‘S’ maneuver to maintain position of close formation during the final turn onto the bomb run, we were hit by Me 110s out of the sun at 2 o’clock, high. Between their exploding shells and the flak that we encountered at the same time, we lost three of our engines and were able to feather only one of them. The other two windmilled until they froze up, and consequently caught fire just before we abandoned ship. “Charley Harrison had been wounded in the head by an exploding flak burst inside of our ship on a previous mission [27 June 1944], so was not with us this day. Stanley G. Nalipa, who was flying substitute waist gunner for Harrison, was seriously wounded. Even though Crouse and Voigt made sure he had a firm hold on his ripcord – and was conscious when they helped him out the window and yelled for him to pull as he went out, his chute did not open. The Germans picked his body up about a mile inside of Germany from the Netherlands border.
Note: Charley Harrison’s head wound was not serious. He flew again on 16 July 1944.
“With the exception of myself, all the rest of my crew landed inside Germany and were captured. Lt. Platt, navigator, was wounded in one leg during the attacks and injured his other leg while landing with his parachute. My co-pilot, Bart Shambarger was captured by a Nazi sympathizer (NSB’r). After capturing Bart, he offered his hand in a handshake gesture. When Bart reached out his hand, the NSB’r grabbed it and jerked Bart toward him and simultaneously stabbed Bart with his bayonet. The Germans spread the story that Bart had impailed himself on a fence post during landing. Joe Gnaidek, my engineer, was shown Bart’s body right after he was killed and they told him Bart’s chute hadn’t opened.
Note: The name of the Nazi sympathizer was G.J. Trechsel.
“Bart’s body was moved after the war to the American Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. His murderer, the Dutch NSB’r, was turned in to the Allies after the war and sent to prison for eight and one-half years, then released.
“Being the ship’s commander, and therefore, the last to bail out, I landed just barely on the border of Netherlands and Germany. FULL HOUSE was so near the ground when I got out that my chute barely had time to check my velocity before I hit the ground. I injured my back, but managed to crawl to a hiding place and later that evening got into contact with the Dutch Underground. I spent nine months in German-occupied Holland before getting back to Allied
lines. All others from my crew became POWs. “Incidentally, I am reasonably certain of the circumstances of Bart’s death since I have personally visited with the Dutch farmer whose daughter witnessed it.”
Note: Ted Weaver’s wife Silvia has published a book of Ted’s experiences called “The Twenty-Third Mission.”
Other sources have informed me that this NSB’r had been hounded by the Dutch ever since his release until he is thought to have committed suicide. Too, during the 40th anniversary celebration of the liberation of the Netherlands, Lt. Shambarger was distinctly honored by the people of Holland. At their request, I sent his photo to them so that they could display it in the Place of Honor at their ceremonies.
FULL HOUSE Crew
1st/Lt. Ted L. Weaver Injured, evaded, returned Pilot
1st/Lt. Walter B. Shambarger Co Pilot KIA, murdered,
1st/Lt. Lawrence Platt Jr. Navigator POW
1st/Lt.Robert E. Reed Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Joseph S. Gniadek Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Donald F. Fahey Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. Marvin L. Crouse Gunner POW
Sgt. Stanley G. Nalipa Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Lorin L. Voigt Gunner POW
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