B-17G " That sweet thing "
42-31619    615th

24 May 1944   Mission # 74   Target: Berlin


                  24 May 1944 , 06:30 engines are on.
                  21 aircraft were airborne by 07:30 , mission #74 , Primary target: City center of Berlin.

                  Target was an enemy aircraft facility, 5/10 cloud undercast dictated bombing by PFF (radar) on the center of the city.
                  Flak was encountered at several places en route, and over Berlin flak barrages were intense.
                  One B-17 shot down "That sweet thing", that was piloted by Lt. John S. Whiteman on its first mission.
                  They made a forced landing on the island of Bornholm (Denmark).The crew split into pairs, taking different routes.
                  All were eventually able to escape to Sweden.

Missing Air Crew Report : 4957

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

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

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

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Hazy.

4.    Last know date : 24 May 1944
       time : 11:58
       location : 5320 - 1140

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-31619

7.    Nickname of aircraft : That sweet thing

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 John Seymour Whiteman 2nd Lt 0-809902 RTD
Copilot Horace H. Shelton 2nd Lt 0-752024 RTD
Navigator Seymour Ringle 2nd Lt 0-710317 RTD
Bombardier James Alex Stevenson 2nd Lt 0-759991 RTD
Radio Operator William George Nunn S/Sgt 19112459 RTD
Engr / Top Turret Richard Henry O`Bannon jr. S/Sgt 38414828 RTD
Ball Turret Gunner Heath Nelson Liddle Sgt 33536347 RTD
Tail Gunner Jack Raymond Culliton Sgt 16012967 RTD
Left Waist Gunner Orlando James Yemma Sgt 31299225 RTD
Right Waist Gunner Marvin Levern Carraway Sgt 14126121 RTD
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Robert J. Ramsey            1st Lt      0681191       612 th
Donald G. McCree         Major     0348319       612 th
Ronald Woodhouse       Capt        0415741       61? th

-    No. 3 engine acting up enroute to target, did not go over Berlin but joined formation afterwards.
      Ask groupleader fot instructions because #3 windmilling and #2 supercharger out.
      Groupleader instructed to try to keep up. Next call on radio at 1245Hrs.
      Location 5500 - 1310E and said might try to make England. Groupleader instructed to use own judgement.
      Although headed for Sweden 1 crew though might be ditching




Mission to Berlin, Germany, Crashed landed on Sosa on the island of Bornholm.


Will be continued soon



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