MACR PILOT: 1Lt Winans C. Shaddix O-747903
MACR #: 04268
Fiche #: 01517
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: SSW
Intended Destination: Thionville
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: Heavy ground haze. Scattered clouds at 18,000 ft.
Give
Date: April 27, 1944
Time: 20:10
Location: Near Dixmude
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy anti-aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: SW-004973
B: 43-64421
C: 42-157110
D: 42-78775
Weapons
A: 395478
B: 385351
C: 394118
D: 394056
E: 395385
F: 395625
G: 393855
H: 395401
I: 395559
J: 384286
L: None
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 | Winans C. Shaddix | 1Lt | O-747903 |
| CP | George T. Sullivan | 2Lt | O-392574 |
| NAV (N) | Raymand C. Lestico | TSgt | 37177112 |
| BOM (B) | Cole M. Dailey | 2Lt | O-754835 |
| RAD | Frederick H. Erb | TSgt | 13095852 |
| ENG | James H. Lee | TSgt | 34760153 |
| BAL | John B. Cortelletty | SSgt | 19085098 |
| WG (W) | William F. Cornelius | SSgt | 17069759 |
| WG (W) | Kenneth V. Hale | SSgt | 32142159 |
| TG (T) | Hugh Hamilton | SSgt | 14094112 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. W. McGuire | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-806289 |
| C. E. Harris | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-749162 |
| L. C. Van Steenis | Last sighted | Capt | O-798702 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SUMMARY REPORT: A/C #534 was hit by flak as it left the target area (Le Culot A/D) at 1939 hours. No. 3 engine began to smoke and the A/C began to lag. It remained with the formation, however, until 2110 hours when 10 chutes were seen to come out, and the A/C descended in slow spirals, apparently under AFCE control. (Capt. Van Steenis, Lt. McGuire, Lt. Harris) | ||
| No Data | This crew was shot down on 27 Apr 44 - all except Shaddix were POWs - Shaddix was injured but was nursed back to health by Belgian resistance fighters. After recovering Shaddix joined the Armee Blanche and fought with them in the several engagements with the German Army. Shaddix's story has not received the attention it merits. Harry Cruver was working on this at the time of his death. In a statement by Lt. Shaddix dated 7 (Dec. ?) 1944 he says that the A/C crashed near Ardoye, Belgium and exploded upon impact. It was on fire in air. He and Erb slightly injured. Seven men reported to have been captured by Germans and one man evading. Believed the evadee to be Lt. Sullivan. (Shaddix did not know Sullivan had been captured at a later time. . pw) Somewhat unusual is that Lt. Shaddix is shown in the records to have rejoined the 100th Group with a new crew on 6/4/45. Unusual in that evadees were usually returned to the U. S. A. and not allowed to fly missions in the ETO for fear that subsequent capture might result in a breach of security endangering the underground operations in Europe. Letter from W. C. Shaddix of 24/10/84 states: " John Pontziouis, my regular BTG on the crew, came in drunk from an all night carousing & I refused to let him go with us. " The Pontzious record speaks for itself -he was a great one - He had a serious mental problem with guilt after we were lost and was sent home where he was crushed to death (I have heard) in a house moving accident in Michigan. I would give anything if I had just taken him with us. " "The regular navigator, Harry Tennenbaum, was not aboard because "Mickey" operators were not supposed to go on short missions. " Shaddix, injured when parachuted to ground, was nursed back to health by Belgian resistance people. Later joined the Armee Blanche and fought in the Ardennes forest. Stayed in service and served in Pacific theater and flew B-47s for 10 years. Retired in 1960. Additional information concerning W. C. Shaddix: On 27/4/44 T/Sgt Raymond C. Lestico was aboard as NG;S/Sgt John B. Cortelletty replaced John Pontzious as BTG and S/Sgt KENNETH Y. HALE flew as WG. All three became POWs. Lt Tennerbaum was flying with J. T. Dyatt on 7/11/44 when Dyatt crashed at Felixstowe but survived. Most unusual is the fact that Winans Shaddix evaded capture, returned to England and was sent back to the U. S. A. However, he returned to Thorpe Abbotts in April 1945 with a new crew and was assigned to the 351st Sqdn. See below: |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: WALTER G. BURKE 1st Lt. Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: April 28, 1944
