B-17G " Gloria J " 42-39881 614th
11 April 1944 Mission # 49 Target: Politz, Sorau , Poland
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. Robert O. Stine
Missing Air Crew Report : 40171. Organization : AAF Sta 128.
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Alva H. Chapman Capt. 0-461727 614 th
Charles M. Smith 1st Lt 0-734380 614 th
Jesse O. Pack T/Sgt 38222601 613 th
- Lt Stine's crew is believed to have had the most difficult time.
No. 3 engine was hit by flak, the aircraft left the formation and seemed to be under control.
Suddenly it caught fire and exploded almost immediatly.
One or two chutes were reported seen but chances of survival were reported exceptionally poor.
One crew member, still wearing a flak suit, was blown from ship but it is believed he did not have his chute snapped
to the harness.
Mission to Politz, Poland, after being hit by flak, the plane had no 2 engine on fire.
They crashed near Isernhagen, Germany.
Will be continued soon
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