MACR PILOT: 2Lt Charles E. Baker O-760691
MACR #: 08818
Fiche #: 03237
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 349th BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: SE
Intended Destination: Ruhland
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 7 - 10/10 Undercast
Give
Date: September 11, 1944
Time: 12:05
Location: 5035N - 1310E
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: SW-011819
B: SW-011726
C: SW-011741
D: SW-002307
Weapons
A: 728933
B: 728886
C: 644552
D: 948695
E: 7288463
F: 728873
G: 947780
H: 947748
I: 1182183
J: 646040
L: 947837
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 | Charles E. Baker | 2Lt | O-760691 |
| CP | Charles D. Chiles | 2Lt | O-693628 |
| NAV (N) | Donald H. Lienemann | 2Lt | O-717607 |
| BOM (B) | Raymond J. McGuinness | 2Lt | O-772697 |
| RAD | David A. Gurman | SSgt | 12074462 |
| ENG | Eugene C. Damrel | TSgt | 18060101 |
| BAL | Roy C. Johannesen | SSgt | 11081894 |
| WG (W) | David Rattin | SSgt | 19123829 |
| WG (W) | |||
| TG (T) | Fred A. Fischer | SSgt | 37573609 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| E.C. Ivosevic | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-818525 |
| J.H. Mclaughlin | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-816523 |
| T.H. Kemp | Last sighted | 1Lt | O-812277 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Any other reason
Other: Aircraft appeared to be under control entering the undercast
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| "The group in which A/C 806 was flying was attacked by 50 to 70 enemy aircraft. The attack caused at least three of our aircraft to explode and most of the others appeared to be damaged, some were attacked again as stragglers. In a few minutes all but one disappeared beneath the undercast. Since none of them returned no account of the loss of specific aircraft is available. About half of them appeared to be under control as they disappeared into the undercast. Two chutes were seen before the aircraft disappeared, but from which one they came is undetermined," | ||
| No Data | Account by Lt. Chiles: "After the enemy planes made their first attack, our inter-phone system was shot out. Lt Baker & myself tried to use alternate sources but it was impossible. A fire was raging in the bomb bay and the instrument panel was shot up badly. Lt. Baker rang the bell indicating that we were to abandon ship. If the bell rang I couldn't hear it for the guns and engine roar. It wasn't heard in the nose either. Smoke began to fill my oxygen system and another system did the same thing. Baker pointed at my chute so I put in on and I put his on him under his flak suit while he was fighting the controls to get the ship on an even keel. We were leading the squadron but by was the ship exploding which threw Lt. Chiles out..jb) Lt. Baker didn't wear his that time we were either the only one left or the only one I could see & we were still on fire & still being attacked by enemy fighters & our guns were still going, how many I don't know. Baker tried to set up the Automatic pilot but it was laying on the floor. He motioned for me to get out. Everything was getting black. I motioned to the men in the nose to follow me & I must have gone out the hatch then. The next thing I remember was floating in air. (It dog tags that day but I believe he had an identification bracelet on.) I didn't see any more of the six men listed in the casualty questionnaire. It was the opinion of Lt Lienemann that Rattin, Fischer and Gurman had been blown our of the A/C but that they had not been able to open their chutes - being dead or unconscious - He also believed that the ball turret with Johannesen inside had plummeted to earth after the plane exploded. Chiles was shown Johannesen's dog tags by the Germans and he said they were badly bent up and all bloody. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: WALTER G. BURKE 1st Lt. Air Corps Assistant Adjutant
Date prepared: September 13, 1944
