MACR PILOT: 1Lt William H. Fletcher O-798998
MACR #: 02761
Fiche #: 00924
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 350th BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: E
Intended Destination: Brunswick
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 8-10/10 undercast
Give
Date: February 21, 1944
Time: 14:40
Location: Haarlam, Holland (5230 - 0515 E
Specify: Information not available
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Other circumstances
Other reason for loss: Lost 2 engines - cause not give in Macr
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 43-37796
B: 43-65932
C: 43-64335
D: 43-65038
Weapons
A: 376154
B: 376053
C: 866801
D: 866816
E: 397902
F: 415966
G: 866839
H: 866984
I: 375977
J: 907301
L: 866916 (m) 906376
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 H. Fletcher | 1Lt | O-798998 |
| CP | Richard M. Roper | 2Lt | O-804508 |
| NAV (N) | George A. Browning | 2Lt | O-685315 |
| BOM (B) | Howard D. Venzie | 2Lt | O-676983 |
| RAD | George A. Reid | TSgt | 13104047 |
| ENG | Leo T. Callahan | TSgt | 31120291 |
| BAL | Pietro J. Giaquinto | SSgt | 32499257 |
| WG (W) | John J. Seman | SSgt | 33293830 |
| WG (W) | Alexander Sosik | SSgt | 32330322 |
| TG (T) | David T. Robb | SSgt | 33339625 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| I.C. Van Stennis | Contacted by radio | 1Lt | O-790702 |
| Frank E. (Big Frank) Valesh | Contacted by radio | 1Lt | O-742914 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Any other reason
Other: Aircraft went down under controll
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| "A/C #796 in our formation at 5210N - 0515E called on VHF and said two engines were out and that a landing in Holland would be attempted" Lt. Van Stennis "A/C #796 peeled out of formation at 1430 at 23,000 feet with two engines out. The location was approximately 5210N - 0630E and called on VHF said he was going to try and reach Holland. Went down through heavy clouds. There were many friendly fighters around" Lt. Frank Valesh | ||
| No Data | This aircraft was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group - 350th Bomb Squadron and crash-landed after losing three engines. The aircraft came down near Spaarndam, (Five miles north east of Amsterdam) The Netherlands at 1449 on 21 February 1944 while returning from a bombing mission against Brunswick GR. The pilot was Lt. William Fletcher who, at the request of the crew, crash-landed the aircraft rather than having the crew bail out! None of the airmen were injured. The ten crewmen were taken prisoner and were held in various Stalag Luft camps until released by the Allies. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: Missing
Date prepared: Unknown
