B-17G " Also ran , Still running "   42-39820    614th

11 April 1944   Mission # 49   Target: Politz, Sorau , Germany


                  April 11, 1944 , 06:50 engines are on , 32 aircraft were airborne by 07:55
                  target today is a synthetic oil refinery at Politz , Sorau.

                  The primary target for this mission was the FW 190 assembly plant at Sorau, southeast of Berlin.
                  However, because the primary target was obscured by clouds, the Group bombed the secondary target,
                  the large synthetic oil refinery at Politz, just north of Stettin. Enroute to the target the Group encountered terrific flak,
                  during which three aircraft were lost..
                  Including the B-17's piloted by Lt. Samuel P. Wilson

Missing Air Crew Report : 4015

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 614th.

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course :East.
       Target : Sorau , Politz.
       Type of mission: Operational Bombing.

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Clear.

4.    Last know date : 11 April 1944
       time : 10:54
       location : Near Hanover , Germany.

5.    Aircraft believed to have been lost as a result of : Enemy anti-aircraft

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-39820

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Also ran , Still running

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 Samuel Phillips Wilson 1st Lt 0-667623 POW
Copilot Elgin Volney Gattis 2nd Lt 0-748622 POW
Navigator Lawrence Herman Sudakov 1st Lt 0-750258 POW
Bombardier John Joseph Daly 1st Lt 0-739145 POW
Radio Operator Homer Cecil Kelley T/Sgt 38273969 POW
Engr / Top Turret Jesse Cromwell Corley T/Sgt 34386015 POW
Ball Turret Gunner Beryle A. Corntassel S/Sgt 18161236 POW
Tail Gunner Leonard Edward Sokol S/Sgt 37461553 POW
Left Waist Gunner John Elmer Morrissey Cpl 17025667 POW
Right Waist Gunner William George Wolf S/Sgt 37201936 POW
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Alfred LeSage          S/Sgt      13068963       614 th

-    Lt Wilson ship was last seen at 10:54 whem no. 2 engine was hit by flak.
      It pulled out of formation and was seen to salve his bombs.
      Its inboard engine was feathered , but was under control when it turned away.




Mission to Politz, Poland, after being hit by flak, the plane had no 2 engine on fire.
They crashed near Steinhagen, Germany.


Will be continued soon



If you have questions, remarks or information , please feel free to Email me
or leave a message in my guestbook

Top