Missing Air Crew Report :

1.    Organization : by name AAF Sta 128 , Command : 8th Air Force.

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course : South East.
       Target : Merseburg, Germany.
       Type of mission : Operational Bombing.

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

4.    Last know date, time and location : 2 November 1944, 1243 (12:43 am), just past target ( 5110-1150E ).

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

6.    Aircraft type and serial no. : B-17G Ser No. 43-38159.

7.    Nickname of aircraft : " Wolfpack ".

8.    Engines : Type, Model and Series R-1820-97.

9.    Installed weapons : 12 ea 500 lb. Bombs.

10.  Persons listed below listed as : Battle Casualties.

11.  Persons on board : Crew : 9, Passengers : 0, Total : 9.

12.  List crew position , name , rank , serial no. and current status :

Pilot	Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr.	1st Lt	O-737216	POW	( RTD )
Copilot	Thomas Anderson Hayes	2nd Lt	O-770654	MIA
Navigator	William Henry Green	2nd Lt	O-719056	MIA
Bombardier	William Martin Mencow	2nd Lt	O-771950	MIA
Radio Operator	William Edward Brereton	T/Sgt	16113165	MIA
Top Turret	Byron Keith Cook	T/Sgt	19135348	MIA
Ball Turret Gunner	Theodore Monarcky	S/Sgt	35771995	MIA
Tail Gunner	John J. Reardon	S/Sgt	17110566	KIA
Waist Gunner	John Gerard Dunn	S/Sgt	32612885	MIA

13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Carsen, Frank Jr.     1st LT. 0-763917   "Last Sighted"
Geraldi, Joseph J.      S/Sgt 36764262   "Last Sighted"
Scott, Edward R.      S/Sgt 32751785   "Last Sighted"

By 1st Lt. Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr. , Pilot and only survivor.

- Name of crew member : Monarcky , Theodore.
- Rank : S/Sgt.
- Serial number : 35771995
- Position : Ball Turret.

- Did he bail out ? : No knowledge, but I dont believe he did.

- Where ? : Ship blew up after being hit over Merseburg, Germany

- If not, why not ? : Lack of time between first hit and explosion.

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Last conversation was an oxygen check 30 sec before ship was hit.

- Was he injured ? : No knowledge.

- Where was he last seen ? : At his station , Ball Turret.

- Any hearsay information ? : None.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : Due to lack of space, Ball Turret Gunners could not wear their Parachutes.
                                                          His chute was in the radioroom and I dont think he could have reached it                                                           between Bail Out signal and explosion.

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 25 ?

- Date and destinations if possible ? : July 44 28th Merseberg 29th Merseberg
                                                                    Aug. 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 13 - 18 - 25 - 30
                                                                    Sept. 3 - 5 - 13 - 19 - 25 - 27 - 28
                                                                    Oct.  6 - 7 - 19 - 22 - 25 - 26 - 28
                                                                    Nov. 2 Merseberg

By 1st Lt. Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr. , Pilot and only survivor.

- Name of crew member : Reardon, John.
- Rank : S/Sgt.
- Serial number : 17110566
- Position : Tail Gunner.

- Did he bail out ? : No knowledge.

- Where ? : Ship blew up after being hit over Merseburg, Germany

- If not, why not ? : Lack of time between first hit and explosion.

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Last conversation 30 sec before ship was hit - oxygen check .

- Was he injured ? : Not before explosion - after I dont know.

- Where was he last seen ? : At his station in the tail.

- Any hearsay information ? : That he died of wounds , November 3rd.

- Source ? : His mother recieved word from the Gove.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : He must of have bailed out in order to be alive yet the day after it happened.
                                                          The wounds he is said to have died of, may have been caused by explosion,
                                                          or hostile civilians.

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 25 ?

- Date and destinations if possible ? : July 44 28th Merseberg 29th Merseberg
                                                                    Aug. 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 13 - 18 - 25 - 30
                                                                    Sept. 3 - 5 - 13 - 19 - 25 - 27 - 28
                                                                    Oct.  6 - 7 - 19 - 22 - 25 - 26 - 28
                                                                    Nov. 2 Merseberg

By 1st Lt. Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr. , Pilot and only survivor.

- Name of crew member : Brereton, William Edward.
- Rank : T/Sgt.
- Serial number : 16113165
- Position : Radio Operator.

- Did he bail out ? : No knowledge.

- Where ? : Ship blew up after being hit over Merseburg, Germany

- If not, why not ? : Lack of time between first hit and explosion.

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Conversation was oxygen check 30 sec before hit.

- Was he injured ? : Not before explosion - after, no knowledge.

- Where was he last seen ? : At his station ( radio room ).

- Any hearsay information ? : None.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : Inclined to believe he was still in ship at time of explosion.
                                                          He always wore his chest pack, but may not have been concious enough
                                                          to use it during fall.

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 25 ?

- Date and destinations if possible ? : July 44 28th Merseberg 29th Merseberg
                                                                    Aug. 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 13 - 18 - 25 - 30
                                                                    Sept. 3 - 5 - 13 - 19 - 25 - 27 - 28
                                                                    Oct.  6 - 7 - 19 - 22 - 25 - 26 - 28
                                                                    Nov. 2 Merseberg

By 1st Lt. Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr. , Pilot and only survivor.

- Name of crew member : Green, William Henry.
- Rank : 2nd Lt.
- Serial number : O-719056
- Position : Navigator.

- Did he bail out ? : Yes, I saw him bail out on my signal.

- Where ? : Over Merseburg, Germany

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Conversation was oxygen check 30 sec before being hit.

- Was he injured ? : No.

- Where was he last seen ? : Bailin out of nose hatch.

- Any hearsay information ? : None.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : Since he DID bail out, he may have been killed by hostile civilians
                                                          or in landing with chute.

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 25 ?

- Date and destinations if possible ? : July 44 28th Merseberg 29th Merseberg
                                                                    Aug. 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 13 - 18 - 25 - 30
                                                                    Sept. 3 - 5 - 13 - 19 - 25 - 27 - 28
                                                                    Oct.  6 - 7 - 19 - 22 - 25 - 26 - 28
                                                                    Nov. 2 Merseberg

By 1st Lt. Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr. , Pilot and only survivor.

- Name of crew member : Dunn, John Gerard.
- Rank : S/Sgt.
- Serial number : 32612885
- Position : Waist Gunner.

- Did he bail out ? : No knowledge.

- Where ? : Ship crippled over Merseberg, Germany

- If not, why not ? : If he didn't bai out, it was probably because he didn't had time.

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Last conversation about 30 seconds before loss at plane, it was an
                                                                             oxygen check.

- Was he injured ? : Not before the ship was blown up, after that I have no knowledge.

- Where was he last seen ? : At his station in the right waist.

- Any hearsay information ? : None.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : When the ship was hit the first time, the bail out signal was given.
                                                          He COULD have bailed out then , but I rather think he may have tried to help
                                                          the ball gunner out of the Ball.
                                                          If so , he wouldn't have had time to jump before explosion.

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 25 ?

- Date and destinations if possible ? : July 44 28th Merseberg 29th Merseberg
                                                                    Aug. 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 13 - 18 - 25 - 30
                                                                    Sept. 3 - 5 - 13 - 19 - 25 - 27 - 28
                                                                    Oct.  6 - 7 - 19 - 22 - 25 - 26 - 28
                                                                    Nov. 2 Merseberg

By 1st Lt. Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr. , Pilot and only survivor.

- Name of crew member : Cook, Bryon Keith.
- Rank : T/Sgt.
- Serial number : 19135348
- Position : Top Turret.

- Did he bail out ? : No knowledge.

- Where ? : Ship blew up after being hit over Merseberg, Germany

- If not, why not ? : Lack of time between first hit and explosion.

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Last conversation was an oxygen check 30 seconds before first.
- Was he injured ? : Not before explosion, after no knowledge.

- Where was he last seen ? : At his station immediately before explosion.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : Since he was in the pilot's cabin, he could have been blown free as myself,
                                                          however he may have been knocked unconsious as I was, but failed to regain
                                                          conciousness before hitting ground.

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 25 ?

- Date and destinations if possible ? : July 44 28th Merseberg 29th Merseberg
                                                                    Aug. 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 13 - 18 - 25 - 30
                                                                    Sept. 3 - 5 - 13 - 19 - 25 - 27 - 28
                                                                    Oct.  6 - 7 - 19 - 22 - 25 - 26 - 28
                                                                    Nov. 2 Merseberg

By 1st Lt. Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr. , Pilot and only survivor.

- Name of crew member : Mencow, William Martin.
- Rank : 2nd Lt.
- Serial number : O-771950
- Position : Bombardier.

- Did he bail out ? : Yes I saw him bail out on my signal.

- Where ? : Over Merseberg, Germany

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Conversation was oxygen check 30 seconds after being hit.
- Was he injured ? : No.

- Where was he last seen ? : Bailing out , nose hatch.

- Any hearsay information ? : None.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : Since he DID bail out he may have been killed by hostile civilians or
                                                          in landing with chute.

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 25 ?

- Date and destinations if possible ? : July 44 28th Merseberg 29th Merseberg
                                                                    Aug. 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 13 - 18 - 25 - 30
                                                                    Sept. 3 - 5 - 13 - 19 - 25 - 27 - 28
                                                                    Oct.  6 - 7 - 19 - 22 - 25 - 26 - 28
                                                                    Nov. 2 Merseberg

By 1st Lt. Herbert Lloyd Oas Jr. , Pilot and only survivor.

- Name of crew member : Hayes, Thomas Anderson.
- Rank : 2nd Lt.
- Serial number : O-770654
- Position : Co-pilot.

- Did he bail out ? : No.

- If not, why not ? : He was sitting along side of me at time of explosion.

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : Immediately before explosion I signaled for an extinguisher.
- Was he injured ? : No.

- Where was he last seen ? : Sitting in his seat along side of me.

- Any hearsay information ? : None.

- Any explanation of his fate ? : None

- Total number of missions of above crew member ? : 24 ?

- Date and destinations if possible ? : July 44 29th Merseberg
                                                                    Aug. 3 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 13 - 18 - 25 - 30
                                                                    Sept. 3 - 5 - 13 - 19 - 25 - 27 - 28
                                                                    Oct.  6 - 7 - 19 - 22 - 25 - 26 - 28
                                                                    Nov. 2 Merseberg

This report was dated 2 Nov. 1944

Eye Witness Name : Carsen, Frank Jr.    1st LT.    0-763917
                                   Geraldi, Joseph J.     S/Sgt     36764262
                                   Scott, Edward R.     S/Sgt     32751785

Interrogating Officer : Donald V. McCallum 1st LT

Group : 401st.
Sqdn : 615th A/C # 43-38159
Missing date : 2 Nov. 44

First pilot : Herbert L. Oas, 1st Lt., O-737216
Destination : Merseburg.

1.    Position of missing aircraft when last sighted or contacted :

   a. by coordinates : Just past target ( 5110 - 1150E )
   b. Approximate altitude 26,000
   c. Last noted heading: ---
   d. If out of formation, approximate distance from formation: ---

2.    Describe enemy opposition : Detense flak from target.

3.    No. 3 engine was hit directly and pieces seen in the air.

4.    After about 10 seconds A/C went down in a spiraling dive.

5.    If distressed aircraft was out of formation was it last seen with escort? : ---

6.    No. of parachutes seen : 3 chutes seen , while spiraling down.

7.    Any other remarks? : ---