MACR PILOT: 1Lt William T. Fitzroy O-755539
MACR #: 07809
Fiche #: 02856
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 350th BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: E
Intended Destination: Merseburg
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 6 - 8/10 Cloud Cover
Give
Date: July 29, 1944
Time: 10:21
Location: 5107N 1142E
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 43-61819
B: 41-22366
C: SW-003101
D: 43-57377
Weapons
A: 683113
B: 683248
C: 650665
D: 647357
E: 889056
F: 589746
G: 889056
H: 337764
I: 650753
J: 647677
L: 888140
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 9
Pass: 0
Total: 9
Personnel
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| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | |||
| P2 | William T. Fitzroy | 1Lt | O-755539 |
| CP | Robert Dykeman | 1Lt | O-755534 |
| NAV (N) | Floyd F. Hartman | 2Lt | O-808050 |
| BOM (B) | Floyd O. Douglas | TSgt | 32383566 |
| RAD | Carmine V. Roberto | TSgt | 15322527 |
| ENG | Ira L. Arnold | TSgt | 38338409 |
| BAL | Bernard L. Spragg | SSgt | 33301833 |
| WG (W) | Frank W. Buschmeier | Sgt | 35683437 |
| WG (W) | |||
| TG (T) | Joseph P. O'Donnelkl | Sgt | 12085108 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie E. Kassebaum | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-75691 |
| George S. Allen | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-753839 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Any other reason
Other: None
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| "No specific information concerning the loss of this A/C is available. The leader of this squadron suffered flak damage before the target and jettisoned his bombs. The formation broke up and all A/C became stragglers and were all lost, presumably to enemy fighters after passing over the target of opportunity (TOA)" ..pw | ||
| No Data | Lt Dykeman, T/Sgt Arnold, Buschmeier and Spragg were from Lt John P. Gibbons crew. O'Donnell from Lt J. M. Shelly crew and of course Fitzroy was the original co-pilot of the Randell T. Chadwick crew when it joined the 100th on 24 Feb 1944. On July 29, 1944, for the second day in a row, B-17's set out for the oil plant at Merseburg. The formation was led by 1st Lt Herbert Howard and Austin Dunlap on a faulty course which went over Leipzig. The 100th "A" Group followed the 390th BG. The formation flew on a southerly course towards Merseburg and was hit in a barrage of extremely heavy flak. In the next few minutes, the low squadron of the 100th Lead was hard hit, losing 5 of 6 B-17's. Crewmembers believe FW 190's and ME 109's were radioing the formation’s altitude while flying in their own flak. The "A" Group dropped wide; "B" Group hit the target. The entire low squadron of the 100th "A" Group failed to return. There was a 6 8/10th's cloud cover at the target. The lead A/C was hit by flak before the target causing a formation breakup and many stragglers. All were presumable lost to enemy fighters after passing over targets of opportunity. Witnesses: Lt Kasselbaum and Lt George Allen reported Lt Fitzroy's A/C blowing up after being hit. German records indicate that 5 bodies were recovered. EYEWITNESS: "No specific information concerning the loss of this A/C is available. The formation leader for this squadron suffered flak damage prior to the target and was forced to jettison his bombs. This may have led to the breaking up of the formation for all became more of less stragglers. All were lost, presumably to E/A after passing over the target of opportunity. " Floyd F. Hartman Hartman's statement also indicates S/Sgt Carmine V. Roberto was killed before the crew bailed out over Leipzig at approx. 1045 hours. Lt Fitzroy stated that he had seen 12 Americans Hanged and shot by Germans on the 29th of July, 1944. Lt Dykeman, T/Sgt Douglas and T/Sgt Ira Arnold were among them |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: WALTER G. BURKE 1st Lt. Air Corps Assistant Adjutant
Date prepared: August 1, 1944
