B-17G " Ol' Massa "   42-30855    613th

8 may 1944   Mission # 65   Target: Berlin


                  8 may 1944 , 05:50 engines are on.
                  29 aircraft , mission #65 , target today is a Aircraft plant in Berlin.

                  Because of solid undercast, bombing was by PFF (radar).
                  The Low Box bombing the city of Berlin and the High Box bombing Brandenberg.
                  No enemy fighters were encountered.
                  Flak was moderate to and from the target but intense and accurate over the target.
                  Of the 742 heavy bombers over the target, 36 were shot down and 205 were damaged.
                  The 401st lost Lt. Lt. J. D. Lenkeit and his crew when their B-17 (42-30855 "Old Massa") received a direct flak burst
                  just behind the ball turret.

Missing Air Crew Report : 4586

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 : Visibility good , 8/10 undercast
                                                                                up to 8-1000 Ft.

4.    Last know date : 8 may 1944
       time : 12:32
       location : Dummer lake area , Germany.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-30855

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Ol' Massa

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 Dana M. Lenkeit 2nd Lt 0-803232 KIA
Copilot Wendell Taylor Johnson 2nd Lt 0-687036 KIA
Navigator Cyrus Palmer Bennett 1st Lt 0-749419 POW
Bombardier Harold William Dershimer 2nd Lt 0-746994 KIA
Radio Operator Marshall Thomas Abraham S/Sgt 13057360 KIA
Engr / Top Turret Jessie Orville Pack T/Sgt 38222601 KIA
Ball Turret Gunner Leonardo F. Davies S/Sgt 32506396 KIA
Tail Gunner Anthony Francis Rose S/Sgt 36631940 POW
Left Waist Gunner Edward Jones Rice S/Sgt 16066299 POW
Right Waist Gunner Thomas Beauford Cole Sgt 14058737 KIA
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Lawrence J. Hildinger            1st Lt      0-734914       ??? th
Gerald J. Powell                      S/Sgt      36415204       ??? th
Jay T. Loadholt Jr.                  S/Sgt      14125585       ??? th

-    Flak burtsed just outside waist window or in ship.
      Bottom part of plane blew off.
      Tail section went one way and frontal section another.
      Definitely 613th A/C.




Mission to Berlin, germany, Crashed near Balkum, Germany





Margraten cemetery, Netherlands
Plot : M , Row : 16 , Grave : 7.
1921 - 1944






Margraten cemetery, Netherlands
Plot : M , Row : 20 , Grave : 6.
1923 - 1944






Margraten cemetery, Netherlands
Plot : P , Row : 18 , Grave : 6.
1923 - 1944






Margraten cemetery, Netherlands
Plot : K , Row : 1 , Grave : 1.






Margraten cemetery, Netherlands
Plot : H , Row : 14 , Grave : 20.
1921 - 1944






Will be continued soon



If you have questions, remarks or information , please feel free to Email me
or leave a message in my guestbook

Top