B-17G 42-31374 613th
13 March 1944 Mission # 36 Target: Gorenflos, France
13 March 1944 , 0815 engines are on
23 aircraft were airborne by 0845 , mission #36 , target today is " Crossbow " (Nazi rocket sites) Gorenfloss , France.
Of the 271 aircraft dispatched by the 8th Air Force, only 7 succeeded in finding targets of opportunity because of
bad weather. Like most other groups, the 401st brought its bombs back to base.
No enemy aircraft were encountered, but moderate flak brought down one of the Group's aircraft, that flown by
Lt. G. J. Hellmuth and his crew (No. 42-31374).
Missing Air Crew Report : 31851. Organization : AAF Sta 128.
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Roger F. Schlieper 2nd Lt. 0-689664 613 th
Sandy Lew 2nd Lt. 0-746361 613 th
Arlis E. Hibbs S/Sgt. 16088190 613 th
- Accurate bursts of flak hit under ship and on no. 3 engine.
A/C dropped back out of formation , jettisoning bombs.
Three chutes were immediately observed.
A/C then stalled and three more chutes were seen as ship went into dive.
At least two men made long delay jumps , disappearing into the clouds.
One observer reports eight chutes in addition to the two men who did not pull cord before disappearing into
the clouds. Ship was afire and exploded before hitting undercast.
- Report : Plenty of time ( approximately five minutes before explosion of A/C ) for all crew members to bail out.
Mission to Gorenflos, France, operation " Crossbow " (Nazi rocket sites), flak hit ship and on no. 3 engine and exploded.
Chrashed near St Quen, France.
Will be continued soon
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