MACR PILOT: Capt Oran Everett Petrich O-435988
MACR #: 00269
Fiche #: 00089
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 NE
Intended Destination: Bremen
Mission Type: Bombing
Weather
Weather: Heavy overcast
Give
Date: June 25, 1943
Time: 09:00
Location: Near 54 00N - 07 30E (Time 0900-1000)
Specify: Information not available
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Other circumstances
Other reason for loss: Disappeared in overcast before formation reached target. Exact location and circumstances unknown.
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 43-57276
B: 41-58449
C: 43-57458
D: 42-8000
Weapons
A: 313001
B: 313275
C: 311400
D: 310959
E: 313148
F: 313242
G: 312952
H: 312968
I: 313060
J: 310912
L: 492674
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Blank
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 | Oran Everett Petrich | Capt | O-435988 |
| CP | Bluford Brantley Mullins | 2Lt | O-798017 |
| NAV (N) | Edward N. Jones | 1Lt | O-662060 |
| BOM (B) | Stanley O Morrison | 2Lt | O-2043765 |
| RAD | Max P. Brim | TSgt | 17042214 |
| ENG | Joseph D. Bieu | SSgt | 31121477 |
| BAL | Edward I. Zerblis | TSgt | 36325832 |
| WG (W) | Henry H. Rutherford | SSgt | 39104150 |
| WG (W) | James M.q Strong | SSgt | 18126041 |
| TG (T) | Pete S. Villalobos | SSgt | 19078879 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam L. Barr | Last sighted - Took off in same formation. | 1Lt | O-791275 |
| Magee C. Fuller | Last sighted - Took off in same formation. | 1Lt | O-1699234 |
| Glen S. Van Noy | Last sighted - Took off in same formation. | 1Lt | O-728775 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Unknown
Other: Unknown
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| No eyewitness report -- Unknown | ||
| No Data | A complete and exact sequence of events on this mission, the first flown by the 100th, is most difficult to determine. Of the 30 men comprising crews #1, 2 and 3, only five survived the mission and, of these, Nick Demchak is the only one who could be located by this writer. (James Brown, 100th Historian) Demchak and I agree that the 100th on this day never completed a proper assembly. At the time of leaving the English coast, the 349th, flying low squadron, was perhaps a mile to the rear of the lead squadron led by Major Flesher of the 418th. Both the lead and high squadrons seemed scattered all over the sky and a true Group combat formation never existed. The atrocious weather had a part in this situation, but perhaps a larger role was that of the questionable judgment of the Group leader. At a point a little north of the East Frisian islands, Crew #1, leading the first element, disappeared into the undercast and was not seen again. No doubt it fell victim to enemy fighters as did crews #2 and 3. Louie Grate, regular bombardier on this crew, for some reason did not fly this first mission. His place was taken by Lt. Stanley Morrison (KIA) who was the regular bombardier of Crew #29 of the 418th Squadron. No further record of Grate's service with the 100th has been found...jb |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: CLAUDE L. HOSFORD 2nd Lt Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: July 22, 1943
