Personnel

CREW

       MERSEBURG



1st Lt Raymond E.Harney       P   KIA    28/9/44

2nd Lt William R.Kimball         CP  KIA    28/9/44  A/C  44-6306

2nd Lt Charles M.Hamrick     NAV  KIA    28/9/44  MACR #9373,Microfiche ,#3436

2nd Lt Warren.M.French     BOM  KIA    28/9/44

   Cpl Thadeus L.Gotz           TTE (requested RFS)

   Cpl Hubert J.Burleigh,Jr.   ROG  KIA    28/9/44

   Cpl Melvin F.Cordray           BTG   POW 28/9/44

   Cpl Robert C.Minear            WG   KIA    28/9/44   (MOVES TO TTE ON THIS CREW)

   Cpl James J.Sorenson         WG  POW 28/9/44  sn# 17155212

   Cpl John H. Bundner           TG   (requested RFS)



349th Sqdn.  Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 22/8/44. On 28/9/44,T.L.Gotz was not 

aboard the A/C and  Robert  Minear was flying as engineer.   A S/Sgt JACK D.FRANCISCO was aboard 

as tail gunner and became a POW



Crew was on it's eighth mission.



 EYEWITNESS:  "A/C #306 was hit in #2 engine by flak at 1210 hours in the target area. The engine caught fire, but   

was quickly put out when it pulled away from the formation. It then pulled under our group but began to fall back when   

#4 engine was also feathered.  Later #4 started running and it was thought to be this aircraft that followed our    

formation 28 to 30 minutes before going down into the undercast near 5051N and 1057E with P-51s escorting.



James J. Sorenson

  We do not have the track to the target for the 29 Sep 44 Merseburg mission.  I have enclosed what information we have, you will note that it is not the complete Field Order (N0# 434). When I return to the Archives at Suitland, Maryland I will try and find the maps with the track marked as well as the complete field order.



 Was nice to see you in Little Rock and looking forward to seeing you at the next reunion.  Should you need anything further from the files. let me know and if I do not send more information on the Merseburg mission drop me a note as I might forget..



 The above airmen were all promoted to S/Sgt 11 Sept 1944

 Ted Gotz and John Bundner were removed from combat duty,

 Bob Minear was moved from LWG to TTE

 Jack Francisco replaced Bundner

 Ted Gotz, Melvin Corday and John Bundner are all deceased at this writing. (1994)

 The whereabouts of Jack Francisco is unknown.

This from a letter to Paul West in 1994...



MISSIONS OF S/SGT JAMES J. SORENSON (mpf 2002)



1. 08/09/44 MAINZ

2. 09/09/44 DUSSELDORF

3. 10/09/44 NURNBURG

 14/09/44 OPERATION FRANTIC (RECALLED)

4. 18/09/44 WARSAW, POLAND (2nd RUSSIAN SHUTTLE)

5. 19/09/44 SZOLNOK, HUNGARY

 22/09/44 ITALY TO ENGLAND

6. 25/09/44 LUDWIGSHAVEN

7. 26/09/44 BREMEN

8. 28/09/44 MERSEBURG (SHOT DOWN)



ENDED UP IN STALAG LUFT IV

Crews 8th Mission