MACR PILOT: 1Lt Robert C. Pearson O-1699547
MACR #: 00272
Fiche #: 00090
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: S SW
Intended Destination: La Pallice
Mission Type: Bombing
Weather
Weather: CAVU
Give
Date: July 4, 1943
Time: 11:40
Location: 3 mi. west of La Pallice
Specify: Information not available
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Other circumstances
Other reason for loss: Information not available
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 45-58619
B: 43-58633
C: 43-58744
D: 43-58667
Weapons
A: 320098
B: 329861
C: 329942
D: 322973
E: 329938
F: 327141
G: 324673
H: 321146
I: 327071
J: 325137
L: 495124
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. Pearson | 1Lt | O-1699547 |
| CP | Melville G. Boyd | 2Lt | O-797960 |
| NAV (N) | Bruce T. Rinker | 1Lt | O-660906 |
| BOM (B) | John L. Dunbar | 2Lt | O-730774 |
| RAD | Randall G. Villa | TSgt | 38185414 |
| ENG | Jack M. Goss | TSgt | 13049923 |
| BAL | Everett J. Moore | SSgt | 31161034 |
| WG (W) | Lonnie B. Rutledge | SSgt | 15082089 |
| WG (W) | John T. Westwood | SSgt | 13083517 |
| TG (T) | Albert N. Purcell | SSgt | 18004281 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| V. E. Fienup | Last sighted | 1Lt | O-729837 |
| E. V. Mulholland | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-798016 |
| T. E. Murphy | Last sighted | 1Lt | O-441010 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason:
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| V. E. Fienup, E. V. Mulholland and T. E. Murphy reported last sighting of A/C. One of these gave following report: "#1 (Pearson) of 2nd Element approximately a mile from target and slightly behind other formation. Formation turned slightly to left. Pearson turned slightly to, the right and down. No 2 & 3 A/C of this Element followed throttled back and over ran Pearson. Pearson motioned for 2 & 3 A/C to go ahead. This left #2 & #3 in rear of formation These A/C proceeded to catch up. All during this time Pearson had bomb bays open. Pearson descended turning and heading west over water. All engines were turning. No props feathered or engine smoking. He descended very rapidly. Fienup saw 051 release bombs short of target, do a 180 turn and lose altitude. Reason unknown. " | ||
| No Data | Melville Boyd later stated that all crewmembers bailed cut safely and landed on IL D Oleron. He last saw all crewmembers safe in U. S. In May 1979 Al Purcell returned a Crew roster of Crew #20 noting that all members except Dunbar were POWs. Dunbar an evadee. Enlisted men in Stalag 17-B. Al Purcell letter dated 9 Feb. 1980 . . . . "As we started our bomb run both inboard engines went out at the same time, which accounted for our loss of altitude so fast. Jack Goss(our engineer) told me later that the 2 engines lost power at the same time for no apparent reason, as if sugar or something had been put into the fuel. We dropped our bombs over the water and as I understood we were trying to make it to Spain. At this point ME 109s attacked us from the rear and knocked out another engine -- with, only one left we were ordered to bail lut. We did shoot down 2 MEs. After the tail gunner I was the 3 or 4 man out. As I floated down I watched the plane crash and burn on the small island. Pearson landed in the water, Boyd broke an arm landing, Dunbar was lucky, the French hid him and he escaped capture. I had just enough time to roll up my chute before being picked up. The rest of the crew were picked up along with me. As for the engine failure -- Jack Goss gave me details at the time -- and said Pearson was questioned by the Germans as to why he was leading 2nd element instead of A flight. This made us think there was sabotage of some kind since the Group commander or some high ranking officer was to fly with us but changed his mind the night before the mission. | |
| Report date and preparing officer not legible. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by:
Date prepared: Unknown
