B-17G " Omar the Dentmaker "   42-37833    615th

26 March 1944   Mission # 44   Target: Watten , France


                  26 march 1944 , 12:15 engines are on , 21 aircraft were airborne by 13:04
                  Target today is " Crossbow " (German V-1 rocket sites in the Pas de Calias area of France)

                  This mission involved sending 573 8th Air Force bombers to attack 16 rocket sites.
                  Flak was moderate but extremely accurate.
                  The B-17 piloted by Capt. W. M. Rumsey, " Omar the Dentmaker " (42-37833), was shot down over the target.
                  This was one of the Group's original crews and aircraft.

Missing Air Crew Report : 3599

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 615th.

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course :?
       Target :Watten , V1 rocket site.
       Type of mission: Operational Bombing.

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : ?

4.    Last know date : 26 March 1944
       time : 14:30
       location : 5 miles from Bouquemaison

5.    Aircraft believed to have been lost as a result of : ?

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-37833

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Omar the Dentmaker

8.    Engines : R-1820-97.

10.  Persons listed below listed as : Battle Casualties.

11.  Persons on board : Crew : 10.

12.  List crew position , name , rank , serial no. and current status :
Pilot William Madison Rumsey Jr. Capt 0-728740 KIA
Copilot Robert Daniel Kaercher 1st Lt 0-681433 KIA
Navigator Michael R. Walsh 1st Lt 0-676185 KIA
Bombardier James Daniel Haffner 1st Lt 0-739024 POW
Radio Operator William Warren Carter T/Sgt 39829464 KIA
Engr / Top Turret Donald Behrn Roberts T/Sgt 32377788 KIA
Ball Turret Gunner Irving Ira Lieberman S/Sgt 13103453 KIA
Tail Gunner John B. Carson Sgt 14043222 POW
Left Waist Gunner Frank Augustine Rothwell S/Sgt 33330990 KIA
Right Waist Gunner Ivan Ray Lee S/Sgt 12073240 KIA
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft : ?






Mission to Watten, France, operation " Crossbow " (Nazi rocket sites), just before bomb run, plane was hit by flak.
Chrashed near Bouquemaison, France.


Will be continued soon



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