MACR PILOT: 2Lt Raymond J. Gormley O-797516
MACR #: 00949
Fiche #: 00314
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: ENE
Intended Destination: Bremen
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: CAVU
Give
Date: October 8, 1943
Time: 15:00
Location: 20 miles SE of Emden
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 43-59911
B: 43-59919
C: 43-59937
D: 43-59974
Weapons
A: 470396
B: 120884
C: 121164
D: 394116
E: 393709
F: 393823
G: 394295
H: 393878
I: 394019
J: 393872
L: 394007
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 10
Pass: 0
Total: 10
Personnel
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | |||
| P2 | Raymond J. Gormley | 2Lt | O-797516 |
| CP | Edward J. Fox | 2Lt | O-801555 |
| NAV (N) | Peter T. Motta | 2Lt | O-749446 |
| BOM (B) | William J.q Heath | 2Lt | O-676220 |
| RAD | Dale A. Von Seggern | TSgt | 35374810 |
| ENG | Jay B. McPhee | TSgt | 36122736 |
| BAL | Donald R. Hilton | SSgt | 37233560 |
| WG (W) | Charles Presley | SSgt | 14046069 |
| WG (W) | William A. Avery | SSgt | 16087699 |
| TG (T) | Clay E. Rife | SSgt | 37233529 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walter L. Moreno | Last sighted | 1Lt | O-733699 |
| Howard E. Keel | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-739964 |
| John T. Griffen | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-798489 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Unknown
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| No Data | Top Turret gunner Sgt John Ehlen on Piccadilly Lily reported, " the FW 190 crashed into the his left wing root. Gormley had been flying a wing position and the whole formation was in a flat turn. The FW 190 passed over our wing and crashed into the B-17 (Marie Helena) on the turn". Walter "Chief" Moreno flying nearby in Messie Bessie noted " Red nose FW 190 crashed into ship #386 and both went down in flames 20 miles SE of Emden" The shattered remains of Marie Helena crashed near Bellingwalde, Friesland. " "Plane was rammed by A FW 190 flew by Oblt Erich Hondt, both aircraft went down and disintegrated in mid-air the wreckage falling over a wide area near Bellingwolde, 28 miles east of Groningen holland at 15.30 hrs most body's were burnt to 3 degree and Lt Gormley and Llt fox, t/sgt Von Seggern and t/sgt Mc Phee and s/sgt Presley were burried in the protestant churchyard Bellingwolde Lt Motta, Lt Heath , s/sgt Hilton, s/sgt Avery and s/sgt Rife were burried on 18 oktober 1943 in the nearby Lutheran cemetery at Leer Germany , s/sgt Presleý's body was found a week later in canal" "From another dutch book about the 8th air force there is the story of the german pilot Oblt Hondt where he says that he was shot down by the B-17 and he won't let him go that’s why he rammed him he survived because his FW exploded and he was thrown from the plane but was serious wounded. Iin the book is also some photo's of the german pilot and there is a drawing of the FW just before he rammed the B-17" _________________ ron eindhoven the netherlands http://www.mary-ruth.ontheweb.nl/ Michael, Hondt flew a Focke Wulf 190A-5/U12 Werknummer (Serialn.) 410266.Underside from the engine cover was red cover from the propeller also.There were red strips from the top of the engine cover to the back of the wings. Tail was white.I have some photos from the plane but don’t know how to add it to the post. Jabo |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: CLAUDE L. HOSFORD 1st Lt Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: October 12, 1943
