MACR PILOT: 1Lt Arthur G. Larsen O-772416
MACR #: 13714
Fiche #: 05010
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: ESE
Intended Destination: Zeitz
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 5 to 7/10 Undercast
Give
Date: March 31, 1945
Time: 09:21
Location: 2057 - 1231E
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy anti-aircraft
Other reason for loss: #3 engine was knocked from the wing completely - was sighted "flying" through the formation
Engines
Model:
A: SW-020136
B: SW-018907
C: SW-43-8645
D: 14-02301
Weapons
A: 458140
B: 45825
C: 470207
D: 456311
E: 142339
F: 458103
G: 457974
H: 313392
I: 159330
J:
L:
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 9
Pass: 0
Total: 9
Personnel
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | |||
| P2 | Arthur G. Larsen | 1Lt | O-772416 |
| CP | Thomas E. O'Neil | 1Lt | O-926131 |
| NAV (N) | Dale F. Watterson | 2Lt | O-2068065 |
| BOM (B) | Charles W. Dineen | TSgt | 16161626 |
| RAD | Joseph M. Popson | TSgt | 13026774 |
| ENG | Raymond R. Bazata | TSgt | 37484231 |
| BAL | Willard P. Bostrom | SSgt | 37569877 |
| WG (W) | Marvin F. Barner | SSgt | 37490494 |
| WG (W) | |||
| TG (T) | John E. Kaiser | SSgt | 18243028 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph W. King | Last sighted | 1Lt | O-774684 |
| Fillingame | 1Lt | O-829150 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Composite of Lt. Fillingame & Lt. King: A/C 44-6470 was hit by flak immediately after bombs away. #3 engine was knocked loose and dropped off the wing. The A/C nosed up; then leveled off and started for the undercuts in a steep glide. At the Rally Point pilot made a 180 degree turn and headed back toward Russia. He was heard over VHF saying that #4 prop was running away and he would attempt to reach Russia lines. The A/C was under control and there was no fire. One chute was seen to leave the A/C. Allied fighters were escorting A/C. Statement of S/Sgt Kaiser 18243028 to Captain Charles W. Terry, Thorpe Abbots POW interrogation 18 May 45: S/Sgt Kaiser was flying as tail gunner and states that his A/C was hit twice. After the first hit it remained in level flight and the Engineer called to see if he was alright. There were noises from the front that sounded like pieces of the plane were ripping off. When it was hit again a few seconds later, the A/C started down in a steep glide. He fastened on his chute and called over the interphone but no one answered. He looked back into the waist but could see nothing because of smoke. The A/C was vibrating badly so he decided to get out. His clothing hung on the handle of the escape hatch and he was trapped there about thirty seconds. He tried to climb back into the A/C but was weak from lack of oxygen and could not, so he pulled himself up as far as he could and let go. This freed him from the plane so he opened his chute and looked down. He floated across the German the German Air Field located at 5059N and 1231E. As he floated over the woods just east of this A/F, he noticed that there were hundreds E/A dispersed there. He landed in an open field just east of the woods and was momentarily unconscious. When he came to he saw several German soldiers approaching, so he stood up with his hands over his head. After being captured and brought to a POW Camp at Weimer he was interrogated by a German Officer. The interrogator asked him the name of the crew. He gave them their last names and was told his crew had crashed a mile away and all had been killed. As proof he produced a basket containing the dog tags, bill folds, watches, and other personal property of the men. Sgt. Kaiser was allowed to look through this equipment and when he found the wedding ring of his pilot, Arthur G. Larson he asked the interrogator if he would allow him to take it to Lt. Larsen's wife. He replied, "sure" and gave it to him. | ||
| STATEMENT OF S/SGT. JOHN E. KAISER. 18243028: The following information was received by Captain Charles W. Terry, Station 139 Prisoner of War Officer on interrogation of S/Sgt. Kaiser 24 April 1945. S/Sgt Kaiser, since this date has returned to the Zone of Interior. "On 31 March 1945, A/C 44-6470 was hit by flak while over the target at Zeitz, Germany and its #3 engine was knocked out of its mount. It nosed up out of the formation, leveled off, then started down in a steep glide. Just before reaching the undercast, the pilot was heard to say he would try to reach the Russian lines and the A/C went into the undercast on an easterly heading. " S/Sgt Kaiser was flying as tail gunner and states that his A/C was hit twice. After the first hit it remained in level flight and the engineer called on inter- phone to ask if he was all right. There were noises from the front that sounded like pieces of the plane were ripping away. When it was hit again a few seconds later, the A/C started down in a steep glide. He fastened on his chute and called over in interphone but no one answered. He looked back into the waist but could see nothing because of smoke. The A/C was vibrating badly so he decided to get out. His clothing hung on the handle of the escape hatch and he was trapped there for about 30 seconds. He tried to climb back into the A/C but was weak from lack of oxygen and could not, so he pulled his-self up as far as possible and let go. This freed him from the plane so he opened his chute and looked down. He floated across the German Air Field located at 5059 N 1231 E. As he floated over the woods just east of this A/F, he noticed that there were hundreds of E/A dispersed there. He landed in an open field just east of the woods and was momentarily unconscious. When he came to, he saw several soldiers (Luftwaffe) approaching, so he stood up with his hands over his head. After being captured and brought to a Prisoner of War Camp at Weimer he was interrogated by a German Officer. The interrogator asked him the names of the members of his crew. He gave him their last names end was told that his crew had crashed a few miles away and all had been killed. As proof he produced a basket containing the dog tags, bill folds, watches, and other personal property of the men. Sgt. Kaiser was allowed to look through this equipment and when he found the wedding ring of his Pilot, 1st Lt Arthur G. Larson he asked the Interrogator if he would not allow him to take it to Lt. Larsen's wife. He replied ''sure" and gave it to him. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: George D. Allen, Capt Air Corps, Assistant Adjutant
Date prepared: November 30, 1999
