MACR PILOT: Capt Robert M. Knox O-438010
MACR #: 00677
Fiche #: 00223
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 418th BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: Regenssburg
Intended Destination: North Africa
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: CAVU
Give
Date: August 17, 1943
Time: 10:30
Location: Near Frandfurt
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy anti-aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 42-79072
B: 43-58741
C: 43-58757
D: 43-58755
Weapons
A: 458645
B: 494440
C: 583428
D: 494547
E: 458071
F: No number
G: 494548
H: No number
I: 503772
J: 458199
L: 503969
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 10
Pass: 0
Total: 10
Personnel
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | |||
| P2 | Robert M. Knox | Capt | O-438010 |
| CP | John O. Whitaker | 2Lt | O-798061 |
| NAV (N) | Ernest E. Warsaw | 2Lt | O-667461 |
| BOM (B) | Edwin F. Tobin | 2Lt | O-732685 |
| RAD | Walter Paulsen | TSgt | 12077723 |
| ENG | Glover E. Barney | TSgt | 39601716 |
| BAL | Frank W. Tychewicz | SSgt | 36344174 |
| WG (W) | Henry A. Norton | SSgt | 14090803 |
| WG (W) | Alexander W. Markewski | Sgt | 12170779 |
| TG (T) | Joseph F. LaSpada | SSgt | 32035862 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernie Lay | Last sighted | Col | O-309771 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Parachutes were used
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| B-17 # 063 was seen to turn back from formation near Frankfurt. Plane was still under control when last sighted. Ten chutes were reported to have been seen. (Bernie Lay) | ||
| No Data | This is the 100th aircraft linked the "Gear Down Legend" incident. Supposedly the lowering of the gear signaled surrender. In this case when enemy fighters joined with PICKPLEPUSS the gunners fired on them. Thus the Luffwaffe from that time on singled out the Square D aircraft and attacked them with greater intensity than other Groups. This never occurred in regard to the 100th. Martin Middlebrook has traced a similar incident to another Group. He traced and interviewed the Luffwaffe pilots credited with shooting down PICKLEPUSS and they refute the gear down theme and say they never approached the aircraft with the purpose of leading them to landing. (Adolf Galland, Commander Fighers Luftwaffe, had never heard of any special attention to any Group until after the war.)..pw |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: CLAUDE L. HOSFORD 1st Lt Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: September 5, 1943
