B-17G " Lassie Come Home "   42-39943    612th

7 May 1944   Mission # 64   Target: Berlin


                  7 May 1944 , 05:30 engines are on.
                  39 aircraft were airborne by 07:02 , mission #64 , target today is Friederichstrasse Underground Station in Berlin.

                  This was one of the Group's less successful missions.
                  The 401st lost one aircraft and crew, that piloted by Lt. Browning O. Grimmet (42-39943), which was hit by flak.

Missing Air Crew Report : 4587

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 612th.

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course :West.
       Target : Berlin.
       Type of mission: Operational Bombing.

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : 8/10 undercast.

4.    Last know date : 7 May 1944
       time : 11:25
       location : 5210 - 1230 E.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-39943

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Lassie Come Home

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 Browning Glen Grimmett 2nd Lt 0-754338 KIA
Copilot John Russell Leach 2nd Lt 0-690118 KIA
Navigator Raymond Kenneth Haines 2nd Lt 0-706521 POW
Bombardier Charles Granville Koontz 2nd Lt 0-757881 KIA
Radio Operator Wilbur Claude Lauer S/Sgt 16168836 KIA
Engr / Top Turret John Washington Platt S/Sgt 18209076 KIA
Ball Turret Gunner John Spiotti Sgt 32809252 KIA
Tail Gunner William James Slaughter Sgt 18214549 KIA
Left Waist Gunner Calvin Edward Yeager Sgt 35685483 KIA
Right Waist Gunner Roscoe Conklin Humphrey Sgt 18161492 KIA
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

George F. Bingham            1st Lt      0-679033       612 th

-    A/C dropped down and back from its position in the lead box so that is was to the left of the low box,
      which was flying to the right of the high box.
      A/C feathered # 2 engine.
      Witness did not see smoke or any other sign of distress.




Mission to Berlin, germany, Crashed near Langlingen, Germany





Will be continued soon



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