Personnel

CREW



1st Lt Woodrow B.Barnhill        P  KIC   16/7/43

2nd Lt Carl F.Hudson             CP  KIC  16/7/43

2nd Lt William H.Carr           NAV  KIC   16/7/43   Initially buried at Cambridge

1st Lt Winfred L.Rucker      BOM  KIC   16/7/43  Initially buried at Cambridge

 T/Sgt Peter Contos          TTE   KIC   16/7/43  Initially buried at Cambridge

 T/Sgt Edward D.Johnson  ROG  KIC   16/7/43   Initially buried at Cambridge

   Sgt Frank M.Opala          BTG   IIC   16/7/43 

 S/Sgt Newton E.Harris,Jr.  WG   KIC   16/7/43

 S/Sgt Vincent S.Noel        WG  IIC   16/743

S/Sgt Peter S.Russell,Jr.     TG   IIC   16/7/43 



349th Sqdn. Original Crew of 100th Group . Crew crashed on T/O -near - rectory in Dickleburgh. Flying A/C #42 30305 "FLAK SHACK". 



 Official Report of Crash reads:



"On 16 July 1943,B 17,serial number 42- 30305, took off from Station #139 on a local formation practice mission. Weather was clear and visibility unlimited. Take off was at 1006 local time. After take off, the aircraft entered a right bank almost lmmediately The bank continued, and the aircraft lost altitude until ground impact. Duration of the flight did not exceed 30 seconds. Three crew members in the rear of the aircraft survived with injuries. The other seven crew members received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed." See letters from V.S.Noel 

(1978) and Ken Everett.



     The 3 injured men recovered and were assigned to ground positions.

     

 F.M.Opala,21267 Gertrude Ave. #202,Port Charlotte,FL 33952