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MACR PILOT: Capt  John P  Ernst  - O-753979
MACR: 12046 FICHE : 04417

ORGANIZATION
LOCATION: AAF Station #139 COMMAND: VIII AF GROUP: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
SQUADRON: 351st BS DETACHMENT:  
     

DETAIL
DEPARTURE:AAF Station #139 INITIAL COURSE: E  
INTENDED DESTINATION: Berlin    
MISSION TYPE:Operational    

WEATHER & VISIBILITY AT TIME OF LAST REPORT
CONDITION: CAVU    

GIVE
DATE: 1945-02-03 TIME: 11:28 LOCATION: 5231N-1323E

SPECIFY:

Last Sighted

CONFIRMED OR BELIEVED REASON FOR LOSS
LOSS DUE TO : Enemy anti-aircraft

OTHER REASON FOR LOSS:

Ground to air rocket

AIRCRAFT: 44-8379
TYPE: B-17 SERIES: G  
     
     

ENGINES:
MODEL: R-1820-97    
A: Sw-037063
B: SW-037012
C: SW-024319
D: SW-024846
    

INSTALLED WEAPONS:
A: 1312267
B: 1312272
C: 1312338
D: 1311862		 E: 1318667
F: 1318404
G: 1311699
H: 1312106		 I:
J:
K:
L:

PERSONS BELOW ARE LISTED AS:
CASUALTY TYPE: Battle casualty  
NUMBER OF PERSONS ON BOARD:    
CREW: 11 PASS: 0 TOTAL: 11

PERSONNEL:

POSITION NAME RANK SERIAL
P1 Robert Rosenthal Maj O-792349
P2 John P  Ernst Capt O-753979
CP Arthur L. Jacobson 1Lt O-76856pp2
NAV (N) Louis C. Chappel 1Lt O-2064216
BOM (B) Eugene E. Lockhart 1Lt O-766816
RAD Charles H. Webber TSgt 17063224
ENG Dugger C. West TSgt 39295642
BAL
WG (W) Warren Winters SSgt 39140510
WG (W)
TG (T) George A. Windisch SSgt 37722999
Radar Navigator Robert H. Stropp 1Lt O-388339
Command Navigator Stewart J. Gillison 1Lt O-708811

PERSONS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAST KNOWLEDGE OF AIRCRAFT

Edward H. Hansen 1Lt O-818139
Last sighted
   

PERSONNEL WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SURVIVED

REASON: Parachutes were used OTHER:  

EYEWITNESS DESCRIPTIONS OF CRASH

Report: 
GEORGE D. ALLEN
Capt., Air Corps
Assistant Adjutant   Summary of eye-witness reports:

Aircraft 44-8379 was hit by flak, reported to have been a ground rocket a few seconds before bombs away. Aircraftcontinued on bomb run and dropped bombs. Fire producing a dense white smoke was seen to break out in the fuselage, bomb bay, and coclpit. Pilot opened side window and informed the deputy lead to take over on VHF. Aircraft headed NE for a few moments flying level while six of the crew bailed out. Three came from the waist or tail and the others through the bomb bay. A/C headed down burning and starting to spin as it entered the undercast.
   
   
Report: 

      

    





  
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PREPARING OFFICER


PREPARED BY: GEORGE D. ALLEN
Capt., Air Corps
Assistant Adjutant  


DATE PREPARED:
  1945-02-08


  



TRANSCRIBER NOTES



    
    REPORT: 
Taps 1993:
John Ernst last month in California, as S. J. Passen put, "Made his final flight to the Great Airfield in the sky." John was from the 351st and with Robert Rosenthal as command pilot, led the entire 8th Air Force on the 3 Feb 45 maximum effort to Berlin. Shot down over Berlin with what may have been a ground to air rocket seven of the crew became POWs, with one lynched by German civilians. Three were picked up by Russian front line units. As John left the plane his leg struck the jagged edge of the bomb bay doors cutting it severely. It was later amputated by the Germans and soon there after he was returned to Allied control. "Rosie" said of John Ernst, "I regard him as one of the most skillful, courageous and dedicated men I ever servered with." This is no small praise, coming as it did, from the 100th beloved Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal, a man who flew 52 missions in the 100th starting in 1943...pw