B-17G " The Saint and Ten Sinners "   42-31226    613th

29 April 1944   Mission # 60   Target: Berlin


                  29 April 1944 , 06:40 engines are on.
                  21 aircraft were airborne by 07:30 , mission #60 , target today are Railroad marshalling yards in Berlin.

                  The 401st was part of a force of over 1,000 heavy bombers which dropped over 2,000 tons of bombs on Berlin
                  in the largest daytime blow ever struck at the Reich.
                  While the 401st did not encounter any enemy fighters , flak over the target was extremely heavy and accurate.
                  As a result the 401st lost three aircraft and crews, those piloted by Lt. Donald E. Butterworth (42-31226),
                  Capt. George Gould (42-31521) and Lt. J. H. Singleton (42-31116).

Missing Air Crew Report : 4345

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

       Command : 8th Air Force.
       Group : 401st.
       Squadron : 613th.

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

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : 7/10 undercast , CAVU at altitude.

4.    Last know date : 29 April 1944
       time : 12:10
       location : 5208 - 1138 E.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-31226

7.    Nickname of aircraft : The Saint and Ten Sinners

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 Donald Earl Butterfoss 2nd Lt 0-810818 POW
Copilot Robert Leslie Westfall 2nd Lt 0-814607 POW
Navigator Bernard Joseph Boyle F/O T-123920 POW
Bombardier Robert Charles Kerpen 2nd Lt 0-751914 POW
Radio Operator Roger Reuscheck McCauley S/Sgt 20815583 POW
Engr / Top Turret Alfred Jacob Truszkowski S/Sgt 32607450 POW
Ball Turret Gunner Everett Wayne Stanley Sgt 35646542 POW
Tail Gunner William Hirst Lee Sgt 18007205 POW
Left Waist Gunner William Edward Watkins Sgt 39281632 Evaded
Right Waist Gunner John Wallace Reeves Sgt 34645458 POW
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Elmer M. Fetzer            S/Sgt.       39030376       613 th
Alexander Martinelli   S/Sgt.       33580362       613 th

-    Hit by flak over target.
      Dropped back with # 1 engine feathered and disappeard in the distance.




Mission to Berlin, Germany, Hit by flak over target.Dropped back with # 1 engine feathered and disappeard in the distance.
Crashed near Beekbergen, Netherlands



Will be continued soon



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