Casualty Report from October 8, 1943
Detail
MACR: 00949
Target: Bremen, Germany
Base: Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk, England
Crash: Involved in a mid-air collision with a FW-190, flown by Erich Hondt. Hondt survived the collision but was severely injuried. Marie Helena exploded killing her entire crew. The wreckage, spread over a large area, was found near Bellingwolde, Holland.
Squadron: 351st BS - 100th BG (H)
Aircraft
Aircraft #: 42-3386
Aircraft Type: B-17F
Aircraft Name: Marie Helena
Aircraft Code: EP-H
Pilot: Lt Raymond J. Gormley | O-797516
POS: P
Status: KIA
State: Washington DC
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment -
Copilot: Lt Edward J. Fox | O-801555
POS: CP
Status: KIA
State: Virginia
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - USA
NAV: Lt Peter T. Motta | O-749446
POS: NAV
Status: KIA
State: California
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - Ardennes (D-20-21)
BOM: Lt William J. Heath | O-676220
POS: BOM
Status: KIA
State: Washington
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - Ardennes (D-11-16)
ROG: TSgt Dale A. Von Seggern | 35374810
POS: ROG
Status: KIA
State: Indiana
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - Ardennes (A-8-15)
TTE: TSgt Jay R. McPhee | 36122736
POS: TTE
Status: KIA
State: Michigan
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - Netherlands (A-3-27)
BTG: SSgt Donald R. Hilton | 37233560
POS: BTG
Status: KIA
State: Missouri
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - USA
RWG: SSgt Charles N. Presley | 14046069
POS: RWG
Status: KIA
State: Alabama
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - USA (Remains found in a canal a week after the mission date)
LWG: SSgt William A. Avery | 16087699
POS: LWG
Status: KIA
State: Michigan
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - USA
TG: SSgt Clay E. Rife | 37233529
POS: TG
Status: KIA
State: Missouri
Notes: The Germans buried the crew in Leer - they were reinterred in Ardennes at the end of hostilities. Finals interment - USA
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
Notes on this crew N/A
Report Notes
"Plane was rammed by A FW 190 flew by Oblt Erich Hondt, both aircraft went down and disintegrated in mid-air
the wreckage falling over a wide area near Bellingwolde, 28 miles east of Groningen holland at 15.30 hrs
most body's were burnt to 3 degree and Lt Gormley and Llt fox, t/sgt Von Seggern and t/sgt Mc Phee and s/sgt Presley were burried in the protestant churchyard Bellingwolde
Lt Motta, Lt Heath , s/sgt Hilton, s/sgt Avery Jr and s/sgt Rife were burried on 18 oktober 1943 in the nearby Lutheran cemetery at Leer Germany , s/sgt Presleý's body was found a week later in canal"
"From another dutch book about the 8th air force there is the story of the german pilot Oblt Hondt
where he says that he was shot down by the B-17 and he won't let him go that’s why he rammed him
he survived because his FW exploded and he was thrown from the plane but was serious wounded. Iin the book is also some photo's of the german pilot and there is a drawing of the FW just before he rammed the B-17"
_________________
ron
eindhoven
the netherlands
http://www.mary-ruth.ontheweb.nl/
Michael,
Hondt flew a Focke Wulf 190A-5/U12 Werknummer (Serialn.) 410266.Underside from the engine cover was red cover from the propeller also.There were red strips from the top of the engine cover to the back of the wings. Tail was white.I have some photos from the plane but don’t know how to add it to the post.
Jabo