MACR PILOT: 1Lt Ronald W. Braley O-728819
MACR #: 00679
Fiche #: 00224
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: Regansburg
Intended Destination: North Africa
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: CAVU
Give
Date: August 17, 1943
Time: 10:00
Location: From Nuremburg to the Alps
Specify: Forced down
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 43-58875
B: 41-55690
C: 43-58235
D: 43-60412
Weapons
A: 503250
B: 503875
C: 503968
D: 503884
E: 503418
F: 503823
G: 485198
H: 458471
I: 494540
J: 493934
L: 503826
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 | Ronald W. Braley | 1Lt | O-728819 |
| CP | Walter Z. Trenchard | 2Lt | O-798052 |
| NAV (N) | John E. Fawcett | 2Lt | O-792450 |
| BOM (B) | Thomas D. Carlton | 1Lt | O-728455 |
| RAD | James R. Bair | Sgt | 13060377 |
| ENG | Joseph E. McGuire | TSgt | 39092598 |
| BAL | Phil W. Ong | SSgt | 37196401 |
| WG (W) | Charles C. Grissom | SSgt | 17027657 |
| WG (W) | Donald G. Ruggles | SSgt | 15105331 |
| TG (T) | Elmo E. White | Sgt | 18076995 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard A. De Marco | Last sighted five minutes before target | 1Lt | O-791290 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Parachutes were used
Other: 8 chutes seen
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| B-17 #070 left our formation five minutes before the target with #1 engine on fire. When last seen fire appeared to have spread to the tail section. It is reported that 8 chutes were seen. (Bernard A. De Marco) | ||
| No Data | Heavy attacks by enemy aircraft started uncontrollable fires in the No# 1 engine and tail section, forcing the crew with the exception of James R. Blair, to bail out near Tauberschofsheim. This is a suburb of Wurzburh and is about 125 miles short of the target. All nine were taken prisoner by the Germans. Bair was wounded very early but stuck to his gun and was killed shortly before bail out. His body identified in wreckage of A/C by Sgt. Grissom from belt buckle and Catholic medal. Grissom believed a 20 mm had hit him in chest. Trenchard fractured an ankle, Ong suffered a fractured vertebrae and White was wounded in the back by flak. |
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
