MACR PILOT: 1Lt Dean M. Radtke O-468393
MACR #: 03034
Fiche #: 01030
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 418th BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: East
Intended Destination: Berlin
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: Scattered Clouds 3 - 4/10 undercast
Give
Date: March 6, 1944
Time: 12:10
Location: Central germany
Specify: Information not available
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: SW-991088
B: 96-004033
C: SW-1375
D: SW-994123
Weapons
A: 842960
B: 967642
C: 967680
D: 962675
E: 949126
F: 647420
G: Unreadable
H: Unreadable
I: Unreadable
J: Unreadable
L: Unreadable
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 | Dean M. Radtke | 1Lt | O-468393 |
| CP | Gordon E. Devault | 2Lt | O-684847 |
| NAV (N) | Robert M. Reilly | 2Lt | O-809724 |
| BOM (B) | William B. Agnetti | 2Lt | O-755595 |
| RAD | Robert Ray | TSgt | 16170059 |
| ENG | Van D. Pinner | TSgt | 18158208 |
| BAL | Joseph C. Krusienski | SSgt | 33423262 |
| WG (W) | Richard L. Kerwin | SSgt | 36164746 |
| WG (W) | Charles F. Allen | SSgt | 36426423 |
| TG (T) | Theodore E. Mangum | SSgt | 13177944 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| None |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: None
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| "A/C #491 was flying in a squadron from which no other aircraft returned. It was lost sometime after 1200 hours over central Germany." Author is not specified in the MACR | ||
| No Data | ON DECEMBER 30, 1943 ON A MISSION TO LUDWIGSHAVEN, DEAN RADTKE'S AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SEVERE FLAK DAMAGE IN THE TARGET AREA. IT WAS THEN ATTACKED BY A PAIR OR FW190'S SOUTHWEST OF ABBYVILLE WHERE A NUMBER OF 20MM SHELLS RIDDLED THE LEFT WING AND NOSE. ONE SHELL SOCKED THROUGH THE NAVIGATORS COMPARTMENT AND STRUCK THE COPILOT, LT ROBERT DIGBY IN THE HEAD AND HE WAS DECAPITATED. SHELL FRAGMENTS STRUCK LT. RADTKE, WOUNDING HIM IN THE FACE, HEAD, AND IN THE NECK NEXT TO HIS JUGULAR VEIN. ONE FRAGMENT COMPLETELY CLOSED HIS RIGHT EYE AND SPLINTERS FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE DRIVEN INTO THE MUSCLES OF HIS RIGHT LEG, RENDERING IT USELESS. THE EXPLOSION ALSO RIPPED THE OXYGEN MASK FROM HIS FACE AND STUNNED THE ENGINEER RUSSELL PINNER. UPON REGAINING HIS SENSES, PINNER COULD SEE THE PILOT AND COPILOT SLUMPED OVER THE CONTROLS. BLOOD WAS SPLATTERED OVER THE SHELL-PITTED COCKPIT. THE WINDOWS WERE SHATTERED AND BROKEN. AT THIS TIME RADTKE REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS AND CALLED THE REST OF THE CREW AND REASSURED THEM EVERYTHING WAS OK. MOST OF THE CREW WAS UNAWARE OF THE DAMAGE IN THE COCKPIT AND THE LOSS OF THE COPILOT OR THE INJURIES LT. RADTKE HAD SUSTAINED. BOMBARDIER LT AGNETTI WAS CALLED UP AND MOVED THE COPILOTS BODY TO THE NAVIGATORS COMPARTMENT, THEN RETURNED TO ASSIST LT RADTKE. DUE TO THE LOSS OF ONE ENGINE AND SEVERED CONTROL CABLES, THE PLANE LAGGED BEHIND THE FORMATION. LT RADTKE MADE THE DECISION (DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY OF HIS ABILITY TO STAY CONSCIOUSE) TO ATTEMPT TO REGAIN POSTION IN THE FORMATION. FAILURE TO DO SO WOULD RESULT IN THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT TRYING TO MAKE IT BACK ALONE OVER ENEMY TERRITORY WITH GERMAN FIGHTERS LOOKING FOR "STRAGGLERS" TO PICK OFF. WITH FINGERS USELESS BECAUSE OF SEVERE CUTS, HE USED THE BUTTS OF HIS HANDS TO MANIPULATE THE CONTROLS AND FOUGHT HIS WAY BACK INTO POSITION. UPON REACHING THORPE ABBOTTS, LT RADTKE BROUGHT HIS SHIP (AND THE REMAINDER OF THE CREW) IN FOR A PREFECT LANDING. FOR HIS ACTION THAT DAY, LT DEAN RADTKE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, THE NATIONS SECOND HIGHEST AWARD FOR VALOR AND BRAVERY. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: WALTER G. BURKE 1st Lt. Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: March 13, 1944
