Casualty Report from February 3, 1945
Detail
MACR: 12046
Target: Berlin, Germany
Base: Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, England
Crash: Hit by flak near 'bomb away' but continued to target and dropped. Uncontrollable fires forced the crew to abandon the aircraft which crashed approximately 20 km northwest of Neudamm, near the German - Russian battle line. All of the crew bailed out, two were never found and are on The Walls of the Missing in Netherlands - the other nine have been accounted for. This aircraft carried the Leader for the entire 8th Air Force on this mission - the 100th's legendary Rosie Rosenthal.
Squadron: 351st BS - 100th BG (H)
Time of loss: 11:25
Aircraft
Aircraft #: 44-8379
Aircraft Type: B-17G
Aircraft Name: Aircraft name N/A
Aircraft Code: EP-?
Pilot: Capt John P. Ernst | O753979
POS: P
Status: POW
State: California
Notes: His right leg was cut badly on the end of one of the bomb bay doors during his bailout. The leg had to be amputated in the Russian Hospital at Poltava.
Copilot: 1Lt Arthur L. Jacobson | O-768562
POS: CP
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
NAV: 1Lt Louis C. Chappell | O2064216
POS: NAV
Status: MIA
State: Michigan
Notes: Commemorated on The Walls of the Missing in Netherlands
BOM: Capt Eugene E. Lockhart | O-765186
POS: BOM
Status: MIA
State: Michigan
Notes: Commemorated on The Walls of the Missing in Netherlands
ROG: TSgt Charles H. Webber | 17063224
POS: ROG
Status: Evaded
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
TTE: TSgt Dugger C. West | 39295642
POS: TTE
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
BTG: N/A First, MI, Suffix Last Name | 00000000
POS: BTG
Status: MIA/KIA
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
RWG: SSgt Warren Winters | 39140510
POS: RWG
Status: Evaded
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
LWG: N/A First, MI, Suffix Last Name | 00000000
POS: LWG
Status: MIA/KIA
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
TG: SSgt George A. Windisch | 37722999
POS: TG
Status: Evaded
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
EX1: Maj Robert (Rosie) Rosenthal | 0792349
POS: CMD P
Status: Evaded
State: State N/A
Notes:
EX2: 1Lt Stewert J. Gillison | 0708811
POS: CMD NAV
Status: Evaded
State: State N/A
Notes: 60 years later, Lt Gillison would be awarded the Silver Star for this mission based on the recommendation of Harry Crosby and Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal
Crew Notes
The third extra crewmen for this 8th Air Force Mission Lead was; Stropp, Robert H.- POW - RAD N - 1/Lt - 0386339
Report Notes
Although Rosie Rosenthal tried to convince the 100th Group CO that he should fly more missions this was not to be. The Group Commander flatly refused Rosie's request to return to flight status and according to Roise, 'explained it in terms he could understand."
