Casualty Report from November 5, 1943
Detail
MACR: 99908
Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Base: Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, England
Crash: Sever flak damage at the target - crew ordered to bail out - after eight men had bailed out. The pilot and copilot William R. Flesh and Lt. John Gossage were able to regain control and flew the Squawking Hawk back to England, making an emergency landing at Tangmere.
Squadron: 349th BS - 100th BG (H)
Aircraft
Aircraft #: 42-30088
Aircraft Type: B-17F
Aircraft Name: Squawkin Hawk
Aircraft Code: XR-E
Pilot: Lt William R. Flesh | O-725595
POS: P
Status: Survivor
State: State N/A
Notes: Returned with A/C
Copilot: Lt John G. Gossage | O-798486
POS: CP
Status: Survivor
State: State N/A
Notes: Returned with A/C - would be captured March 3, 1944 after a crash landing in Germany
NAV: Capt Omar Gonzales | O-725967
POS: NAV
Status: POW
State: Texas
Notes: The 100th's Group Navigator - said by Jim Brown and Harry Crosby to have been on of the very best Navigators in the 8th Airforce. (Paul West)
BOM: Lt James J. Lux |
POS: BOM
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: Lt James Lux's serial number is unknown to the 100th historical staff
ROG: TSgt Conner D. Brewster | 34201968
POS: ROG
Status: KIA
State: Alabama
Notes: KIA - Parachute failed to open, initially buried in POW Cemetery at St. Trond Airfield, Belgium. Moved to Ardennes at the end of hostilies. Final Internment - USA
TTE: TSgt Harold L. Pope | 37259351
POS: TTE
Status: Evaded
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
BTG: TSgt Francis G. Dolsen | 37259351
POS: BTG
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
RWG: SSgt George P. Gineikis | 11045517
POS: RWG
Status: Evaded
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
LWG: SSgt Leon E. MacDonald | 32287971
POS: LWG
Status: Evaded
State: State N/A
Notes: last name could be McDonald
TG: SSgt James Marasco | 20902175
POS: TG
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
EX1: N/A First, MI, Suffix Last Name | N/A
POS: N/A
Status: N/A
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
EX2: N/A First, MI, Suffix Last Name | N/A
POS: N/A
Status: N/A
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
Crew Notes
---> SUBMITTER INFORMATION SUBMITTER: Michael Moores LeBlanc EMAIL: mmleblanc@sympatico.ca PURPOSE: Submit general feedback INTEREST: I am researching WW2 history MESSAGE Message: I was checking details about the Wm R. Flesh crew 349 BS, FTR 5 Nov '43 and note an error in your information. S/Sgt Leon E. 'Al' McDonald(MacDonald?), 32287971 was not a Pow. He is listed as E&E 256 and was the 208th evader helped by the famous Comete line, crossing into Spain on 27 Nov 43, together with fellow crew man George Gineikis. Regards, Michael Moores LeBlanc
Report Notes
Notes on this report: In a bit of humor Omar Gonzales and the remainder of those bailing out are referred in 100th lore as "Flesh's Paratroopers." (Paul West)
