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SGT  Richard E. SMITH

UNIT: 351st BOMB Sqdn POSITION: BTG
SERIAL #: 15407360 STATUS: KIA
MACR: 14170 CR: 14170

Comments1: 10 APR 45 BURG-bei-MADGEBURG

COMMENTS & NOTES

MEMO 1:

CREW

2nd Lt Lawrence L. Bazin      P      KIA      10/4/45     BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG, AF
2nd Lt Charles F.Dixon         CP     FEH
2nd Lt Kenneth C.Peiffer   NAV     FEH   
2nd Lt Harry J.Chase       BOM     FEH
S/Sgt Roens W.Shearwood TTE  Evadee   10/4/45     BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG, AF
   Cpl Glenn D.Abraham,Jr.  ROG  POW      10/4/45     BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG, AF
   Cpl Paul H.Decker            TG   KIA        10/4/45     BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG, AF
   Cpl Richard D.Long          WG   POW     10/4/45     BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG, AF
   Cpl Richard E.Smith         BTG  KIA        10/4/45     BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG, AF

351st Sqdn.  Joined 100th Group,as above, on 11/2/45. On 10/4/45, Lt.John D.Gross from the crew of J.J.Dodrill was the NAV  in place of Kenneth Peiffer. James R.Dotson,pilot of his own crew,was flying as CP in place of Charles Dixon. Also aboard were T/Sgt Arthur T.Flowers as NG (Tog) in place of Harry Chase,and S/Sgt Robert B.Patterson as Radar Con.

Eyewitness: (MACR # 14170 " A/C 963 was forced to peel out of the formation with #2 engine feathered. Then it tried to climb back when ME 262's began pressing attack. The A/C was hit in the right wing and a large piece flew off.Then#3 & #4 engines burst into flames and it peeled off low to the right. As it went down flames were larger and it was believed to hit the ground with a terrific explosion. 
No chutes were seen.

Statement by Shearwood:  "The plane was breaking up when I got out and I was  of the opinion that no other crew member parachuted.I saw no other chutes. When I hit the ground,I did not see any of the crew." 

MISSIONS OF CREW OF LT LAWRENCE L. BAZIN FROM CPL RICHARD LONG: (mpf 2001)

1.  26/02/45 BERLIN
2. 28/02/45 KASSEL
3.   7/03/45 SIEGEN 
4.   8/03/45 GIESSEN 
5. 10/03/45 DORTMUND
6. 11/03/45 HAMBURG
7. 12/03/45 SWINEMUNDE
8. 15/03/45 ORANIENBURG
9. 17/03/45 PLAUEN (in Bill Thompsons MACR reports, it lists March 21, 1945 Plauen as the mission for Bazin Crew)   
From 22/3/45 to 6/4/45 Daniel Shaffer flew 11missions as navigator on this crew. Lt Shaffer completed his tour with this Crew
10. 22/03/45 ALHORN
11. 23/03/45 UNNA
12. 24/03/45 STEENWIJK
13. 24/03/45 ZIEGENHAIN
14. 28/03/45 HANOVER
15. 30/03/45 HAMBURG
16. 31/03/45 BAD BERKA
17. 03/04/45 KIEL
18. 04/04/45 KIEL
19. 05/04/45 NURNBURG
21. 06/04/45 LEIPZIG
22. 10/04/45 BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG

Following is the crew component for the 10 Apr 1945 mission to Magdeburg
Lawrence L. Bazin           Pilot                   KIA
James R. Dotson             Co-Pilot              KIAs in red 
John D. Gross                 Navigator           POW
Arthur W. Flowers           Nose Gunner      KIA
Glenn D. Abraham, Jr.      Radio Operato    POW
Roens W. Shearwood       Flight Engineer    EVA
Richard E. Smith             Ball Turret G       KIA
Paul H. Decker               Tail Gunner        KIA
Robert B. Patterson        Radar C.            POW
Richard D. Long             Waist Gunner     POW

A/C#43 38963 MACR#14170,fiche #5162

MEMO 2:

POW/KIA notes: Could be last 100th BG Crew Lost.

KIA / MIA / EVA / INT INFORMATION:

TARGET: Magdeburg DATE: 1945-04-10  
AIRCRAFT: (43-38963) CAUSE: ME 262  

BURIAL INFORMATION

PLOT: B ROW: 3  
GRAVE: 20 CEMETERY: Netherlands Cemetery/Margraten  

PHOTOS:

Richard E. Smith   351st   BTG   Ohio   KIA   10 Apr 45   Burg-bei-Magdeburg, AF   Lawrence L. Bazin Crew   (100th Photo Archives)

 

SERVED IN:

Crew 1

ID: 4852