B-17G " BTO in the ETO "
42-102647    613th

28 May 1944   Mission # 77   Target: Dessau


                  28 May 1944 , 10:00 engines are on.
                  21 aircraft were airborne by 11:06 , mission #77 , Primary target: Oil Refinery .

                  This was the roughest mission of the 401st Bombardment Group's tour in the ETO.
                  They were attack by approximately 200 enemy fighters. The attacks lasted for 40 minutes.
                  As many as 60 enemy aircraft attacked in formation, using saturation tactics.
                  All of the High Squadron but the Lead Aircraft were shot down. A total of six Group aircraft were lost in the target area.
                  The Group's bombs fell in an excellent pattern, and dense smoke was observed over the target.

Missing Air Crew Report : 5305

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

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

2.    Place of depature : AAF Station 128.
       Course :East.
       Target : Dessau.
       Type of mission: Operational Bombing.

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Clear.

4.    Last know date : 28 May 1944
       time : 14:40
       location : Near Dessau, Germany

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-102647

7.    Nickname of aircraft : BTO in the ETO

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 Frederick Harvey Windham 2nd Lt 0-804442 POW
Copilot Donald Philip Ferguson 2nd Lt 0-693255 KIA
Navigator Carl Thomas Floto Jr. 2nd Lt 0-671335 POW
Bombardier Angelo Joseph Melito 2nd Lt 0-752765 POW
Radio Operator Dana Bailey Johnson S/Sgt 35423740 KIA
Engr / Top Turret Robert Wayne Rittmaier S/Sgt 15324521 POW
Ball Turret Gunner Leonard August Mihalich S/Sgt 13165472 KIA
Tail Gunner Floyd Oliver Miller S/Sgt 14151511 KIA
Left Waist Gunner Jose Gasca Garcia Sgt 39275719 KIA
Right Waist Gunner Clyde Earl Irelan Sgt 17058386 POW
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

James R. Irwin       2nd Lt        0-753829       61? th

-    After the second run over target the A/C was ht by enemy fighters.
      Pulled out to right of formation, lost 2000-3000 feet altitude.
      3 - 4 chutes were seen changes are good for these.
      Rest are doubtful because ship appeared to blow up after these were seen.






Mission to Dessau, Germany, Crashed at Niemegk, Germany.




Ford McPherson cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska, USA.
Plot : R - 41






Alexandria National cemetery, Pineville, Louisiana, USA
Plot : C - 373.






Ardennes cemetery, Belgium
Plot : C , Row : 3 , Grave : 12.






Ardennes cemetery, Belgium
Plot : C , Row : 18 , Grave : 6.
1923 - 1944






Will be continued soon



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