MACR PILOT: 1Lt John G. Gossage O-798486
MACR #: 03025
Fiche #: 01023
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: Berlin
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: Missing
Give
Date: March 3, 1944
Time: 11:25
Location: 5410N-0910E
Specify: Information not available
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Other circumstances
Other reason for loss: Hit by flak and landed in Denmark where entire crew became POWs
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: SW-002632
B: SW-002635
C: SW-002636
D: SW-002638
Weapons
A: 1151517
B: 1152022
C: 1074459
D: 1074248
E: 1074712
F: 1152111
G: 1151640
H: 1152077
I: 1151062
J: 1074432
L: 1150753 (m) 1074701
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 | John G. Gossage | 1Lt | O-798486 |
| CP | Bertrand D. McNeil | 2Lt | O-681153 |
| NAV (N) | Edward A. Warner | F/O | T-123044 |
| BOM (B) | Howard G. Ball | 1Lt | O-734297 |
| RAD | Michael G. Polanick | TSgt | 13039246 |
| ENG | Arthur A. Cooper | TSgt | 19061757 |
| BAL | Thomas R. Wooderson | SSgt | 16044644 |
| WG (W) | James W. Gregg | SSgt | 33268508 |
| WG (W) | Donald B. Sackrider | SSgt | 36110003 |
| TG (T) | Arthur V. R. Congrove | SSgt | 34442921 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| William B. Murray | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-746405 |
| C.I. Montgomery | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-803251 |
| Ernest A. Kiessling | Last sighted | Capt | O-659381 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason:
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| A/C #017 was flying #2 in Lead Element, lead formation. Near 5410N-0910E the leaders flew into a dense layer of clouds. The leader of the second element pulled up above the overcast and his wing men peeled off right and left. None of these crews saw any A/C of the lead element again,. Crews in the 100B group flying in the combat wing behind turned back before entering the cloud bank. Most of these crews observed a large explosion behind them and slightly above the formation altitude. It is believed that A/C #970 and A/C 817 collided and exploded, and that A/C #017 was damaged by the explosion. A VHF signal was received from #017 a short time later saying that the pilot intended to try to reach Sweden--Capt. Kiessling, Lt Murray, and Lt Montgomery. | ||
| No Data | Author unknown: "Crew reported that Arthur A. Cooper was severely wounded in the attack and was later repatriated by the Germans." On 3/3/44, Lt Gossage flying with a new crew headed for Berlin but was jumped by fighters and headed for Sweden. Instead they landed in Denmark and became a POW. Sgt. Humphrey, with the crew of R. D. Vollmer, went down on that same mission and became a POW There are two (2) MACRs regarding John Gossage: MACR # 00778 On 24/9/43 a rather sudden practice mission was scheduled and it was discovered that this crew's regularly assigned A/C was still loaded with bombs from a mission scrubbed earlier that day. Another A/C was assigned the crew and in the rush to take off at the proper time, it was not immediately discovered that the ten machine guns were stored in the nose compartment. While over the North Sea on the practice mission, about 10/15 enemy fighters jumped the formation and left Gossage's ship badly shot up and #3 engine and part of the right wing burning fiercely. Gossage ordered the crew to bail out but he rode the ship to a crash landing in the sea. After about an hour in the water, Gossage, Don, Humphrey, Gillen and Alshouse were picked up by Air-Sea Rescue. Bodies of Schulte & DeCooman were never recovered and their names are inscribed on the Wall Of The Missing at Cambridge, Eng. Bill Grier is buried in the Cambridge Cemetery. NOTE: LT GOSSAGE WAS WITH LT FLESH AT GELSENKIRCHEN ON 5 NOV 43; RETURNED TO THORPE ABBOTTS WITH ONLY PILOT AND CO-PILOT ABOARD. SEE LT FLESH CASUALTY REPORT. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: Missing
Date prepared: Unknown
