Personnel

CREW



2ND LT JOHN F. RYAN, JR.  P KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

2ND LT JOSEPH H. TOBICZYK  CP KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

2ND LT HANS J. CHORPENNING NAV KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

2ND LT CARL S. McGINTY  BOM KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

T/SGT GEORGE L. SHERBACK ROG POW 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

T/SGT MARVIN F. FENNER  TTE KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

S/SGT JAMES F. HEALY  BTG KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

S/SGT HAROLD R. WHIPPLE  RWG KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

S/SGT ARCHIE J. McFARLAND  LWG KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK

S/SGT ELMER J. ANDERSON  TG KIA 12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK



349th  Sqdn.. This crew was on it's first mission.  Ship A/C 337601 "Pack of Trouble"? was hit by flak over Dunkerque at 0853 hours at 24,000 feet.  #4 engine caught fire and the right wing broke off  near the engine inducing a spin. five or six chutes were reported.



Sherback had no recollection of leaving the plane and believed he must have been blown clear.  A German officer told him the plane exploded and all "remains went into the sea."



All the above KIA's are commorated on The Wall of the Missing at the Ardennes American Cemetary in Belgium.



01 Sep 96 Letter to Col. Harry F. Cruver from George L. Sherback sole survivor of the John F. Ryan Crew.



Dear Harry;



Sorry about the long delay in replying to your requests. Primarily there were two reasons (excuses), the first being a search through the attic area for the photo you wanted. I never did find the typical crew in front of a B-17 taken at Dalhart, Texas just before shipping out. However, two others that may be useful are enclosed. Planning and touring Ireland also took a great deal of time.



About the mission (12 Jun 44)



1.  The report of fire in # 4 engine is in error. Actually # 4 was intact and the fire was between # 3 & # 4 in what I say was a gas tank. My last observation from the radio room was a fairly large hole that was enlarging as the skin was melting.



2.  The first sign of trouble was a report of smoke followed closely by There is a lot of fire on the right wing.



3.  A short time before the above, McGinty (Lt. Carl S. McGinty  BOM) sustained a wound to one of his feet. I immediately asked if I could help take care of it but was told by Chorpenning (Lt. Hans J. Chorpennng  NAV), our Navigator, to wait a minute to see if he could take care of it. shortly McGunity agreed that it was done as well as could be done in the plane.

 

4.  My last clear memory in the plane was putting on my chute and heading into the waist where the guys were getting ready to go out. I recall being at the ball turret support when the lights went out. The next vague memory was thinking at one point that it was so quiet and it was such a beautiful day. Next memory is lying on the ground with blood all over the place. The Germans were on a bank approximately 30  40 yards away calling for me to come out. My first response was to stay put and have them come and get me but the blood was still flowing so I unfastened my chute, threw my escape kit aside and walked out. I found out later that the area was mined and I was fortunate to get out of it.



5.  Conversation with German officer after first aid to wounds. This officer held the rank of Captain, was a Cambridge graduate and spoke excellent English. After some first aid for my wounds, I was taken to a  bunker where this officer informed me that our aircraft had exploded and fell into the channel and that all my comrades were lost. 



6.  Crash Site: I have absolutely no idea except for what the German Captain said.



7.  First mission: As a complete Ryan Crew this was the first. However, during June 6 to June 10 during the short two-a-day runs I seem to remember that Ryan and Fenner flew at least one or more of these with other crews. I may be wrong here but the memory is fairly strong.



8.  Post Crash Info: From the bunker I was taken to a hospital in Lille where my wounds were treated. Nest stop was Dulag Luft in Frankfurt for the solitary confinement and interrogation routine after which I was sent to the orthopedic hospital in Meiningen for about one month then to Stettin near the Baltic. Left this camp on Feb. 6, 1945 and marched 86 days until liberated by the 104th Div. On the Mulde River near Helle, Germany. We were flown out to Camp Lucky Strike in France for shipment home. Was discharged at San Antonio in the fall of 1945





This  is about all I can tell you of this unhappy experience. I know it would be nice to have more detail but nothing will change the reality of the loss of nine excellent people with whom I was privileged to live and fly with even for a very short time.



Regards George S. Sherback





349th  Sqdn.. A/C 337601 "Pack of Trouble"? This crew was on it's first mission. 



The following form contents were entered on 26th Dec 1

Date = 26 Dec 1 16:23:31

subject = 100thBG Feedback Form

messages = 351

TYPE_FEEDBACK = ASK A QUESTION

EMAIL = mlaporte@deloitte.com

UNAME = Meg Sherback LaPorte

CONNECTION = I am a relative of a 100th veteran

COMMENTS = I noticed that my Dad's plane name wasn't listed. . . is the list complete? I'm wondering if I've had the wrong name all these years.  "Pack of Trouble", 349th Squadron, shot down 6/12/44. . . PS:  First time visiting this site and find it a great resource!

POW/KIA notes: Crews 1st Mission, Sherback was  WIA and the sole survivor.  For more details see the Crew Page.