MACR PILOT: 2Lt Robert D. Vollmer O-803318
MACR #: 03029
Fiche #: 01026
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: Northeast
Intended Destination: Berlin
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: 10/10 Undercast, dense cloud banks past 27,000 feet
Give
Date: March 3, 1944
Time: 11:25
Location: Near 5410N - 0910E
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Other circumstances
Other reason for loss: Probably collision
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 43-57973
B: 45-56517
C: SW-2313
D: 43-65105
Weapons
A: 668397
B: 669141
C: 667318
D: 670723
E: 632467
F: 669659
G: 669549
H: 413944
I: 670304
J: 668499
L: 670580
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 | Robert D. Vollmer | 2Lt | O-803318 |
| CP | John W. Adams | 2Lt | O-801587 |
| NAV (N) | Edward G. Sullivan | 2Lt | O-809759 |
| BOM (B) | Ernest B. Clark | TSgt | 38128395 |
| RAD | Elias M. Johnson | TSgt | 33445887 |
| ENG | William S. Humphrey | TSgt | 16043348 |
| BAL | Don Gutherie | SSgt | 38292557 |
| WG (W) | Donald W. Becker | SSgt | 16171635 |
| WG (W) | Thomas H. Mullenix | SSgt | 34448589 |
| TG (T) | George W. Wood | SSgt | 32759818 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coy T. Montgomery | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-803251 |
| William B. Murray | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-746405 |
| Leon T. Morgan | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-802140 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Unknown
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| A/C #970 was group leader. Near 5410N - 0910E, at about 1125 hours the leader flew into a dense bank 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 observed the leading element again. Crews in the 100th B-Group flying the combat wing behind turned back before entering the cloud bank. Most of these crews observed a large explosion behind and slightly above the formation altitude. They described the explosion as resulting from the collision of two B-17's. It is believed that A/C #970 and A/C #617 collided and that A/C #017, which also is missing and damaged by the explosion. Lts. Montgomery, Murray and Morgan | ||
| No Data | A/C #817 was #3 in lead element, lead squadron. Near 5410 N 0910 E the leader 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 the leading element again. Crews in the 100th B group flying in the combat wing behind turned back before entering the cloud bank. Most of the 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 which is missing was damaged by explosion. A VHF signal was received from A/C 017 a short time later saying that the pilot intended to try to reach Sweden. A somewhat clearer picture of events is given in a letter from Vollmer to John Miller (1980/81). "Our element remained together and broke out on top of the clouds at 31,000 feet. For the next five or ten minutes it looked like the mighty 8th Air Force, consisting now of only three B-17s,was going to try to make the first strike on Big B. It didn't last long. A bunch of FWs hit us from about 2 o'clock high and got all of us. Two shells exploded in the cockpit, starting a fire in front of the rudder pedals and causing flames to come through my oxygen mask. At that altitude, I was unable to secure the walk around bottle before losing consciousness. The plane then dived and climbed alternately until it finally broke up. I don't know how I got out, but I did parachute with debris falling all around me. Five of the men on my crew died that day. Bob Lohof was leading the 349th. John Gossage was on right wing, and I was on the left. Lohof was leading the 100th. His radio operator did not receive the recall message and we were unable to convince him, so we continued . . . .". |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: WALTER G. BURKE 1st Lt. Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: March 12, 1944
