MACR PILOT: 2Lt Thomas D. Hummel O-737958
MACR #: 00681
Fiche #: 00225
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: Near Bad Mergerheim
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Other circumstances
Other reason for loss: Blew up before reaching target
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 42-137809
B: 42-137839
C: 42-137852
D: 42-137731
Weapons
A: 230959
B: 230958
C: 421197
D: 494413
E: 495136
F: 495363
G: 495090
H: 495073
I: 494919
J: 495657
L: 494858
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 10
Pass: 0
Total: 10
Personnel
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| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | |||
| P2 | Thomas D. Hummel | 2Lt | O-737958 |
| CP | Michael C. Doroski | 2Lt | O-742850 |
| NAV (N) | Archie S. Depew | 2Lt | O-673501 |
| BOM (B) | Norman Brewster | 2Lt | O-738532 |
| RAD | Donald J. Meeker | SSgt | 20507571 |
| ENG | Nelson O. Gunnar | SSgt | 37194298 |
| BAL | Gordon A. William | SSgt | 32477874 |
| WG (W) | Kenneth T. O'Connor | SSgt | 12139143 |
| WG (W) | Richard E. Bowler | Sgt | 33115057 |
| TG (T) | Francis T. J. Stafford | SSgt | 13167851 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard A. DeMarco | Last sighted | 1Lt | O-791290 |
| John R. Justice | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-735390 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Parachutes were used
Other: 3 chutes seen
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| Hummel's A/C blew up 20 minutes before target. Three chutes seen. (B. A. De Marco) Saw 10 chutes at 27, 000 ft. Landed, we think, on the ground. (J. K. Justice) | ||
| On the Regensburg mission. This crew was flying as left wing to Roy Claytor who was leading the second element of the low squadron. Truly "tail end Charlie" to not only the 100th Group but also the entire Regensburg force. Attacked by e/a about 10 minutes before reaching Nurnburg, Hummel’s plane was seen to" blow up" but some chutes were seen. On this final flight of 17/8/43 S/Sgt Richard E. Bowler & S/Sgt Francis T. J. Stafford replaced Devich & Bishoff. Bowler was KIA and Stafford became a POW. J. E. Devich had sustained a broken wrist and other injuries when one dark night he ran his bicycle into a ditch near the base. "THEY NEVER HAD IT SO G0OD" p. 75 notes that " . . . . A last man, Bishoff, was later removed from the crew for hospitalization and his place taken by a spare gunner. " See also TNHISG p. 81 re Dick Bowler Sgt. Bowler was badly wounded by ME l09 and probably died during descent in chute or upon landing. Sgt. O'Connor, it is believed by crew members, did not jump although able to do so. Lt. Doroski said that O’Connor had remarked to him that he was "afraid to ever jump from the plane". This was the fifth mission for O'Connor and the second for Bowler, |
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
