MACR PILOT: 2Lt William E. Baldwin O-783669
MACR #: 13717
Fiche #:
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 351st BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: Northeast
Intended Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 8 - 10/10 undercast
Give
Date: April 3, 1945
Time: 18:50
Location: 5405N - 0620E
Specify: Last contacted by radio
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy anti-aircraft
Other reason for loss: Shortage of gasoline and hit by flak over Frisian Islands
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: SW-631313
B: SW-013783
C: SW-031170
D: SW-030961
Weapons
A: 868610
B: 869124
C: 461342
D: 868810
E: 894923
F: 461451
G: 219413
H: 868895
I: 868954
J: 219095
L: 461644
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 | William E. Baldwin | 2Lt | O-783669 |
| CP | Francis G. Beedle | 2Lt | O-206248 |
| NAV (N) | John H. Buckley | F/O | T-134539 |
| BOM (B) | Leslie O. Davis | Sgt | 35471882 |
| RAD | Kermit E. Jones | Sgt | 36808195 |
| ENG | Kenneth E. Wright | Sgt | 20383070 |
| BAL | Randolph A. Goodwin | Sgt | 39855835 |
| WG (W) | Aflred Mantopoli | Sgt | 32953846 |
| WG (W) | |||
| TG (T) | Ogden W. Barron | Sgt | 42000553 |
| Bombardier-RAD | Howard O. Weber | SSgt | 15313749 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph W. King | Contacted by radio | 1Lt | O-774684 |
| Donald J. Wallish | 1Lt | O-928681 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Unknown
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| "Aircraft 43-38992 was unable to release bombs over the target and retained them until the formation reached 5417N - 0808E on the route back to base. There the bombs were jettisoned from 25,000 feet at 1833 hours. The aircraft appeared to be undamaged and continued on with the formation to 5405 N - 0620E when the wheels were lowered and the pilot called over VHF, saying he was low on gasoline and would try to get back alone. The aircraft peeled off and down toward the undercast. When the formation reached 5250N - 0300E, at 1952 hours, 10,000 feet, a VHF message from the pilot saying that he had 80 gallons of fuel per engine left and estimated he was 15 minutes from land. Nothing further was seen or heard from this aircraft. Pilots suggested the cloud conditions were favorable for icing and that the aircraft could have been lost due to picking up ice in passing through the clouds." Lts. King and Wallish Actually,icing was not the problem as Kermit Jones explains. "We were returning from Kiel when it was discovered we were running out of gas so we headed for Belgium. While enroute,and over the first Frisian Island off the Peninsula of Holland, at an altitude of 5000 feet,we wera hit by flak which destroyed two engines and set the ship on fire." According to Jones,he,Goodwin and Wright bailed out but the others did not and the A/C exploded upon hitting the ground. Jones adds that, "Sgt. Goodwin landed on the island (Texel) and shed his chute and flying boots. These were later shown to us by the Germans with a comment that Sgt.Goodwin was dead. The Germans at the same time showed us the seven pairs of twisted and burned dog tags of remaining members of the crew with a statement that they were all dead." | ||
| No Data | By the way in the "Missing Air Crew Report" #13717 you mention " Textel island ", which should be " Texel island " (delete 't'), and the crash site is mentioned as " Horntge ", which sould be " 't Horntje ". However, this is also not exactly the crash location; It is better to mention " near Watermolenweg in Hoornder Nieuwland ". Greetings from Texel island - The Netherlands Jan Nieuwenhuis Vloedlijn 12 NL-1791 HH Den Burg (Texel) The Netherlands |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: GEORGE D. ALLEN Capt Air Corps Assistant Adjutant
Date prepared: April 10, 1945
