Personnel

CREW

DATE: 11 Sept.1944     350th Sqdn.                  A/C #42-102657  (BOSS LADY but not painted on aircraft)



Mission: RUHLAND                                MACR #8820,Microfiche#3238



1st Lt Albert E.Trommer            P       KIA

1st Lt Timothy H,Bradshaw       CP       POW

2nd Lt James H.Wright            NAV     KIA

2nd Lt Levi F.Groce,Jr.            BOM     KIA

 T/Sgt William M.Stone            ROG    KIA

T/Sgt AlVin J.Severson            TTE    KIA

S/Sgt John C.Kluttz                 BTG    POW

 S/Sgt Thomas C.Kentes          WG     POW

S/Sgt Charles E.Wilson              TG     POW



This crew,as above, with the addition of Sgt,Lester H.Bush as WG,  had joined

the 100th Group on 15/6/44.  On 16/8/44 the crew was given a seven day R & R.

Crew was on its 24th mission on Sept 11, 1944.  Charles Wilson was on his 21st mission

due to flak injury, he missed 3 missions.



EYEWITNESS:  "The group in which A/C 42-102657 was flying was attacked by from

50 to 70 E/A.  The attack caused at least three of our A/C to explode on the first

pass and most of the others appeared to be damaged.   Many of them were attacked

again as stragglers.  In a few moments all but one disappeared beneath the under-

cast.   Since none of them returned, no account of the loss of specific A/C is

available.   About half of them appeared to be under control as they disappeared

into the undercast.  Two chutes were seen before the A/C disappeared.  Which A/C

they came from is unknown."



A/C #42-102657 was flying #2 position in the lead element of the 100th Group C

Squadron which was flyinG as the low squadron of the Group.   At 1205 hours at

5035N - 1310E at 26,000 feet the 100th  C  Squadron was attacked by approximately

40 e/a, FW-190s and ME 109s.  The e/a came in a "swarm" from 6 o'clock opening

fire with 20 mm from 400 yards.  After this one mass  attack,  a few single e/a broke

away from the "swarm" and made a 360 degree turn and again attacked crippled air-

craft in tlle 100th  C  Squadron from 6 o'clock low   In a few moments all but one of

our A/C disappeared beneath the undercast about half of them appearing to be under

control.   Since none of the A/C from the 100th  C  squadron returned from this mission

no account of the loss of specific AC is available.



The following is quoted from a letter written by Lt. Bradshaw in 1945:

  "The action took place on Sept. 11,1944,  we were flying SE of Leipzig, Ger.

   when we were attacked by approximately 100 enemy fighters.  We were set on

   fire in the right wing and the bomb bays. The order was given to bail out.

   I sent Sgt.Severson down to make a double check on the Bombardier (Groce)

   and Navigator (Wright).   When I reached the escape hatch Sgt.Severson was

   trying to release it but it was stuck.   I also tried,but failed,to release it.

   Finally Sgt.Severson and I started kicking on it and finally it fell out.

   I told Sgt.Severson to go, but because I had been slightly wounded, he asked

   me to go ahead.  As far as I know Sgt.Severson and Lt.Wright followed 

   immediately.



   "I was free for about 3 hours,but when I was picked up I was put in a cell

    with my ball-turret gunner, Sgt. Kluttz and my tail gunner, Sgt.Wilson.They

    told me at this time they had seen  Sgt.Stone or at least a person whom

    they thought was Sgt.Stone on a stretcher.  They also thought he was alive

    at this time because he raised his hand to shade the sun from his eyes.."