MACR PILOT: 1Lt John K. Justice O-735390
MACR #: 01021
Fiche #: 00338
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: E
Intended Destination: Munster
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: Clear with ground haze.
Give
Date: October 10, 1943
Time: 15:00
Location: Munster, Germany (time 1500 - 1530)
Specify: Information not available
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Other circumstances
Other reason for loss: Unknown
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 41-57947
B: 43-60536
C: 41-24854
D: 43-62320
Weapons
A: 503649
B: 503665
C: 504156
D: 503842
E: 503412
F: 503291
G: 313354
H: 313428
I: 503187
J: 503223
L: 313109
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 | John K. Justice | 1Lt | O-735390 |
| CP | John F. Shields | 2Lt | O-675628 |
| NAV (N) | Peter Battisti | 2Lt | O-738809 |
| BOM (B) | William C. Brothers | 2Lt | O-669976 |
| RAD | Richard E. Whitlock | TSgt | 35360275 |
| ENG | John F. McDonough | TSgt | 32456923 |
| BAL | Stanley S. Stopa | SSgt | 32479061 |
| WG (W) | Harry Hafko | SSgt | 13090684 |
| WG (W) | Robert E. Bergendahl | SSgt | 32409596 |
| TG (T) | Gaetano D. Sportelli | SSgt | 31189101 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| None |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Original MACR field blank
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| Circumstances of the loss of this A/C unknown. | ||
| No Data | This mission to Munster on 10/13/43 was the 17th for this crew; its first was to Kiel on 25/7/43. Lt. Shields was wounded about the head by 20mm fire but did bail out. A notation on a German report in MACR says his body was found about 100 meters from the crash point on 10 November. Jack Justice is of the belief that, if the German report is factual, Shields was sheltered by friendly Dutch in the area immediately after he landed but that he finally died of his wounds and the Dutch, fearing the Germans would discover they had aided him placed his body near the crash site to be found by the Germans. Sportelli's remains were apparently found in the a/c debris he had not bailed out. It is probable that he was killed or very badly wounded by 20 mm fire. He and Shields were buried at Ede Cemetery in Row C, Graves #1 & 2. Justice was taken in by the Dutch Resistance forces and, after many months, returned to Thorpe Abbotts. He has written a very interesting account of his life as an evadee. See also Ian Hawkins book on Munster raid...pw |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: CLAUDE L. HOSFORD 1st Lt Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: October 21, 1943
