Personnel

CREW



Crew #1 Aircraft #42 29986 M.A.C.R. #269



Capt Oran E. Petrich                  P   KIA 25 June 1943 Bremen

2nd Lt Bluford B. Mullins            CP   KIA 25 June 1943 Bremen

1st Lt Edward N. Jones          NAV   KIA 25 June 1943 Bremen

1st Lt Louis B. Grate             BOM    NOC

T/Sgt Max P. Brim                 TTE   KIA 25 June 1943 Bremen

S/Sgt Joseph D. Bieu             WG   KIA 25 June 1943 Bremen

T/Sgt Edward J. Zerblis         ROG   KIA 25 June 1943 Bremen

S/Sgt Henry H. Rutherford     BTG  KIA 25 June 1943 Bremen

S/Sgt Pete S. Villalobes, Jr.     WG  KIA 25 June 1943  Bremen

S/Sgt James M. Strong, Jr.      TG  KIA 25 June 1943   Bremen





A complete and exact sequence of events on this mission, the first flown by the 100th, is most difficult to determine.  Of the 30 men comprising crews #1, 2 and 3, only five survived the mission and, of these, Nick Demchak is the only one who could be located by this writer. (James Brown, 100th Historian)Demchak and I agree that the 100th on this day never completed a proper assembly.  At the time of leaving the English coast, the 349th, flying low squadron, was perhaps a mile to the rear of the lead squadron led by Major Flesher of the 418th.  Both the lead and high squadrons seemed scattered all over the sky and a true 

Group combat formation never existed.  The atrocious weather had a part in this situation, but perhaps a larger role was that of the questionable judgment of the Group leader.



At a point a little north of the East Frisian islands, Crew #1, leading the first element, disappeared into the undercast and was not seen again. No doubt it fell victim to enemy fighters as did crews #2 and 3.



Louie Grate, regular bombardier on this crew, for some reason did not fly this first mission.  His place was taken by Lt. Stanley Morrison (KIA) who was the regular bombardier of Crew #29 of the 

418th Squadron.  No further record of Grate's service with the 100th has been found.