MACR PILOT: 1Lt William E. Howard O-775364
MACR #: 13716
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: S
Intended Destination: Buchen
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 2 - 4/10 undercast, contrails, light sirrus at altitude
Give
Date: April 7, 1945
Time: 31:02
Location: 6243 - 0945E
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-024585
B: SW-024590
C: SW-024608
D: SW-024609
Weapons
A: 1308464
B: 1306625
C: 1308508
D: 1308242
E: 1307973
F: 1306514
G: 1138661
H: 1308534
I: 1307281
J: 1308481
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 | William E. Howard | 1Lt | O-775364 |
| CP | Genaro Delgado | 1Lt | 781243 |
| NAV (N) | Douglas R. Jones | 2Lt | O-2069877 |
| BOM (B) | Samuel C. Lunsford | TSgt | ?? |
| RAD | Michael Maty | TSgt | 31337331 |
| ENG | Edward E. Hall | TSgt | ?? |
| BAL | Louis A. Lehrmann | SSgt | ?? |
| WG (W) | Russel E. Bolding | SSgt | 39217287 |
| WG (W) | |||
| TG (T) | George F. Thomas | SSgt | 37583842 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| William E. Woods | Last sighted | 1Lt | O-328279 |
| Ronald E. Ledo | 1Lt | O-347091 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason:
Other: Under control when last seen
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| A/C 44-8334 XR-M was attacked by an Me 109. The #3 engine caught fire and the pilot peeled out of formation to the left and feathered #3 engine. The fire appeared to go ouor in the engine but the wheel well was blazing. The bombs were salvoed, and the aircraft completed a 180 degree turn and headed back alone. It was last seen diving into a cloudbank. There were 40 to 50 enemy fighters in the area. (W. E. Woods) | ||
| No Data | For most of the crew it was the 21st to 24th missions, many of the surviving crewmembers feel Michael Maty, Louis A. Lehrmann and George F. Thomas were murdered by German civilians when they landed. Lt Howard was captured within 15 minutes of landing. He ended up in Stalag Luft 1. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: George D. Allen, Capt Air Corps, Assistant Adjutant
Date prepared: April 12, 1945
