MACR 3940

B-17G 42-38162 614th

9 April 1944 Mission # 47 Target: Marienburg , Germany

                  9 April 1944 , 06:45 engines are on , 21 aircraft were airborne by 07:50
                  Target today is a aircraft plant and airfiel in Marienburg , Germany.

                  Marienburg, located in East Prussia, was the most distant target yet bombed by the 401st.
                  The target was hit with a good pattern of bombs landing close to the MPI.
                  Enroute back from the target, while over the Baltic Sea, the Group was attacked by a number of FW 190's in line abreast.
                  The B-17 , piloted by Lt. William R. Dawes, had its nose blown off and was seen going into the sea in an inverted attitude.
                  There were no survivors of the crew, which was nearing the end of its tour.

Missing Air Crew Report : 3940

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.


       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 614th.

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

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Ceiling and visibility unrestricted.

4.    Last know date : 9 April 1944
       time : 15:00
       location : 5442 - 1310 E.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-38162

7.    Nickname of aircraft : --

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 William Roy Dawes Jr. 1st Lt. 0-802731 KIA

Copilot John Daniel Pratt 2nd Lt 0-748784 KIA

Navigator John Albert Schuberg 1st Lt 0-750222 KIA

Bombardier Russell Nikola Van Noy 1st Lt 0-679404 KIA

Radio Operator Walter Lee Brown Jr. T/Sgt 16026852 KIA

Engr / Top Turret Olle Anders Norell T/Sgt 36147173 KIA

Ball Turret Gunner Louie Mark La Fountain T/Sgt 38183420 KIA

Tail Gunner Ray Austin Gentry S/Sgt 34434724 KIA

Left Waist Gunner Arlyn Curtis Aronson S/Sgt 17135135 KIA

Right Waist Gunner William Ray Mooney S/Sgt 18169545 KIA

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

Lawson K. Yeatts          S/Sgt.      34450782        612 th
Cecil C. Estess                S/Sgt.      34425600        612 th
John E. Garity                S/Sgt.      16155719        612 th

-    FW 190's came in in line abreast from 12 o'clock high.
      They blew nose off A/C which turned on its back and finally crashed into the sea about 2 miles off shore.
      Two or three chutes were thought to be seen.
      Several boats were seen in the locality of the crash and chances of survival for those who bailed out are fair.

Marienburg, located in East Prussia, was the most distant target yet bombed by the 401st.
Enroute back from the target, while over the Baltic Sea, the Group was attacked by a number of FW 190's.
AC was seen going into the sea.

Will be continued soon

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