MACR PILOT: 2Lt Robert C. Koper O-804460
MACR #: 03018
Fiche #: 01020
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: East
Intended Destination: Berlin
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: Scattered Clouds 2 - 6/10 undercast
Give
Date: March 6, 1944
Time: 12:13
Location: North of Hanover
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Aircraft
Serial: 42-31061
Type: B-17
Series: G
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: SW-003922
B: SW-004413
C: SW-004940
D: 43-66264
Weapons
A: 674898
B: 672595
C: 674737
D: 405398
E: 674819
F: 676482
G: 673515
H: 676562
I: 673569
J: 676601
L: 674654
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 | Robert C. Koper | 2Lt | O-804460 |
| CP | George C. Lien | 2Lt | O-755584 |
| NAV (N) | George H. Wing | 2Lt | O-692122 |
| BOM (B) | Thomas O. Drinkwater | 2Lt | O-682066 |
| RAD | Michael J. Tanowigch | SSgt | 18058006 |
| ENG | Charles P. Corea | Sgt | 32144962 |
| BAL | Charles J. Luquette | Sgt | 18226230 |
| WG (W) | Ralph V. Zarzecki | Sgt | 33425880 |
| WG (W) | Arthur Frankel | Sgt | 12191378 |
| TG (T) | Bernard Sundin | Sgt | 39202524 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randall T. Chadwick | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-802652 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Parachutes were used
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| "At 1213 hours just north of Hanover an A/C which may have been #061 was attacked by enemy fighters and was shot down. Four or five chutes were seen. Identification of this aircraft is not definite. It may have been confused with #170." Lt. Chadwick. | ||
| No Data | When this crew joined the 100th 24 Feb 44 the ROG was T/Sgt Weston H. Rodkey. On 6 MAR 44 T/Sgt Michael J. Tanowigch, Original 100th from the Sammy Barr Crew #4 was flying in place of Rodkey. The crew with the exception of Tanowigch (On his second tour) had flown four (4) missions. Koper ordered the crew to bail out, remaining to fly the aircraft during the bail out and was alone in the aircraft when it exploded. Crew was flying Goin Jessies from the 351st Bomb Squadron on the Berlin Mission. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: WALTER G. BURKE 1st Lt. Air Corps Assistant Adjutant
Date prepared: March 13, 1944
