LT John L. DUNBAR |
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| UNIT: 351st BOMB Sqdn | POSITION: BOM | |
| SERIAL #: O-730774 | STATUS: EVA | |
| MACR: 00272 | CR: 00272 | |
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Comments1: 4 JUL 43 LaPALLICE (EAC - CL) |
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COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:CREW A/C #42-30051 MACR #272,Micro-fiche 90 1st Lt Robert C.Pearson P POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France 2nd Lt Melville G.Boyd,Jr CP POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France 1st Lt Bruce T.Rinker NAV POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France 2nd Lt John L.Dunbar BOM EVADEE 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France T/Sgt Jack M.Goss TTE POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France T/Sgt Randall G.Yilla ROG POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France Sgt Everett J.Moore BTG POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France S/Sgt Lonnie B.Rutledge RWG POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France S/Sgt John T. Westwood LWG POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France S/Sgt Albert N.Purcell TG POW 4 July 1943 La Pallice,France 351st Sqdn. V.E.Fienup,E.V.Mulholland and T.E.Murphy reported last sighting of A/C. One of these gave following report: "#1 (Pearson) of 2nd Element approximately a miles from target and slightly behind other formation. Formation turned slightly to left. Pearson turned slightly to, the right and down. No 2 & 3 A/C of this Element followed throttled back and over ran Pearson. Pearson motioned for 2 & 3 A/C to go ahead. This left #2 & #3 in rear of formation These A/C proceeded to catch up. All during this time Pearson had bomb bays open. Pearson descended turning and heading west over water. All engines were turning. No props feathered or engine smoking. He descended very rapidly. Fienup saw 051 release bombs short of target,do a 180 turn and lose altitude. Reason unknown." Melville Boyd,Jr. later stated that all crew members bailed cut safely and landed on Il d Oleron. He last saw all crew members safe in U.S. In May 1979 Al Purcell returned a Crew roster of Crew #20 noting that all members except Dunbar were POWs. Dunbar an evadee. Enlisted men in Stalag 17-B. Al Purcell letter dated 9 Feb.1980 . . . ."As we started our bomb run both inboard engines went out at the same time,which accounted for our loss of altitude so fast. Jack Goss(our engineer) told me later that the 2 engines lost power at the same time for no apparent reason,as if sugar or something had been put into the fuel. We dropped our bombs over the water and as I understood we were trying to make it to Spain. At this point ME 109s attacked us from the rear and knocked out another engine -- with, only one left we were ordered to bail lut. We did shoot down 2 MEs. After the tail gunner I was the 3 or 4 man out. As I floated down I watched the plane crash and burn on the small island. Pearson landed in the water,Boyd broke an arm landing,Dunbar was lucky,the French hid him and he escaped capture. I had just enough time to roll up my chute before being picked up. The rest of the crew were picked up along with me. As for the engine failure -- Jack Goss gave me details at the time -- and said Pearson was questioned by the Germans as to why he was leading 2nd element instead of A flight. This made us think there was sabotage of some kind since the Group commander or some high ranking officer was to fly with us but changed his mind the night before the mission.MEMO 2:
KIA / MIA / EVA / INT INFORMATION:
| TARGET: La Pallice | DATE: 1943-07-04 | |
| AIRCRAFT: "Nevada Wildcat" (42-30051) | CAUSE: Mechanical Failure of 2 engines |
BURIAL INFORMATION
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PHOTOS:
Robert C. Pearson crew. Standing (Left to Right): M. Guy Boyd; Robert Pearson; Lonnie Rutledge; Everett Moore;Bruce Rinker; John Dunbar Front row (Left to Right) Jack "Goose" Goss;John Westwood; Randall Villa; Albert Purcell