Casualty Report from March 3, 1944
Detail
MACR: 03022
Target: Berlin, Germany
Base: Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, England
Crash: Involved in a mid-air collision with another 100th B-17, 42-39817, flown by Lt. R.C. Vollmer. There is some reason to believe another B-17 may have been involved. (Jan Riddling, 100th Historian, has determined from conservations with survivors that debris from the collision damaged 42-38017 flown by John Gossage. This would account for the possible third aircraft statement in the Crash Information field) - paul west This information is wrong: The planes were hit by FW190's as soon as they came out of the clouds, shooting down both Capt. Lohof/Capt Putnam and Lt Vollmer. Lt Gossage was also damage and was making his way to Sweden but landed instead in Denmark. Michael P. Faley
Squadron: 349th BS - 100th BG (H)
Aircraft
Aircraft #: 42-31970
Aircraft Type: B-17G
Aircraft Name: Bertha the Blues
Aircraft Code: XR-?
Pilot: Capt Robert H. Lohof | O-533023
POS: P
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
Copilot: Capt Gerald R. Putman | O-792348
POS: CMD P
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
NAV: Lt William E. Vaden | O-736818
POS: NAV
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: (Captured at Schoenefeld)
BOM: 2Lt Paul T. Davis |
POS: BOM
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: The Bombardier is missing from the Casualty Report - Was added by Jan Riddling in July 1996 from conversations with survivors. (paul west)
ROG: TSgt Guy L. Brown | 35165549
POS: ROG
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: (Hospitalized in Westerland/Sylt.)
TTE: TSgt Sidney A. Goldenberg | 12135177
POS: TTE
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: No notes on this crewmember
BTG: SSgt Vern B. Lines | 39531989
POS: BTG
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: (Sustained broken leg parachuting)
RWG: SSgt Richard L. David | 15320263
POS: RWG
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: (Hospitalized in Westerland/Sylt.
LWG: SSgt James M. Butler | 12146229
POS: LWG
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: (Hospitalized in Gulckstadt
TG: SSgt George W. Briggs | 00000000
POS: TG
Status: POW
State: State N/A
Notes: (Died 11 April 1945 shortly before the end of the war - Final Internment - Ardennes (B-37-12) see note below from Dr. who treated him in POW camp.
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
According to Dr. Leslie Caplan's M. D.* sworn affadavit in Minneaplos, MN on Dec 48 & Jan 48, he reports: At 0200 on April 9, l945 at a barn in Wohlen, Germany, S/Sgt George W. Briggs (Ser #39 193 615, TG of the Capt Robert H. Lohof crew, (which crashed March 3, l944 @ Berlin), was suddenly overcome by violent shaking of the entire body & soon went into a coma. This patient was sent tp a German hospital. We were under the jurisdiction of POW Camp Stalag IIB & they voluntarily sent this patient to a hospital. This is in marked contrast to the treatment received when we were under the jurisidiction of Stalag Luft 4 when every hopitalization was either refused or granted after a long series of waiting for gaurds, waiting for permission to see Capt Weinert and awaiting his decision. In spite of the prompt hospitalization, this patient died on April 11, l945. No doubt this death was largely caused by being weakened on the first march while under the jurisdiction of Stalag 4. *Dr. Leslier Caplan continued to help ex-prisoners of war until his death. National Medial Research Committee American Ex-Prisoners of War, Inc. 1410 Adler Road Marshfield, WI 54449 AMBC; S/Sgt George W. Briggs, US Army Air Force, Service #39193615, 349th Bomb Sqdn, 100th Bomb Group. Entered the service from: Washington. Buried at Row 37 Grave 12, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium. His awards are: The Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. Hope this helps. Regards Ken McPherson 8 th AFHS.
Report Notes
The planes were hit by FW190's as soon as they came out of the clouds, shooting down both Capt. Lohof/Capt Putnam and Lt Vollmer. Lt Gossage was also damage and was making his way to Sweden but landed instead in Denmark. Michael P. Faley
