B-17G " Flak rat II "   42-97440    614th

30 May 1944   Mission # 79   Target: Oscherslaben


                  30 may 1944 , 06:55 engines are on.
                  18 aircraft were airborne by 07:42 , mission #79 , target today is the Focke Wolf Aircraft Assembly Plant.

                  The Group provided the Lead Box of the 94th Combat Wing. Lead Bombardier was Lt. Durward E. Fesmire.
                  Some flak was encountered but the principal opposition came from between 40 and 60 German fighters,
                  which attacked as the Group left the target area.
                  This resulted in the loss of two 401st aircraft and crews, those of Lt. Carleton L. Wilson (42-97440 "Flak Rat II"),
                  and Lt. Alpheus L. Kilmer (42-107207).

Missing Air Crew Report : 5310

1.    Organization : AAF Sta 128.                  
               

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

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

3.    Weather conditions when last sighted : Clear.

4.    Last know date : 30 May 1944
       time : 11:10
       location : 10 miles West of Oschersleben.

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

6.    Aircraft type : B-17G
       serial no. : 42-97440

7.    Nickname of aircraft : Flak Rat II

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 Carleton Lee Wilson 1st Lt. 0-803329 POW
Copilot Curtis Clifton Kelley 2nd Lt 0-752211 POW
Navigator John King Connery 2nd Lt 0-809538 POW
Bombardier Francis Matthew Fogarty 2nd Lt 0-682098 POW
Radio Operator John A. Gray S/Sgt 32170030 POW
Engr / Top Turret Robert Emmett Quinn T/Sgt 35612632 POW
Ball Turret Gunner William Wayne Passeno S/Sgt 36539194 KIA
Tail Gunner Gerald Nathan Pettit S/Sgt 13109913 POW
Left Waist Gunner James Franklin McMahon S/Sgt 32714726 KIA
Right Waist Gunner George Richard Smith S/Sgt 13131441 KIA
13.  Person believed to have last knowledge of missing aircraft :

Robert J. Ramsey            1st Lt.          0-681191       615 th

-    On this operation we were flying low Squadron and only the low Squadron was hit by enemy fighters.
      The plane was hit by single engine fighters about 11:10, just after target.
      Fighter hit from below in belly attack and Wilson pulled up into a stall and fell off into a very loose spin to left       The plane was seen leave the formation, and go downware, but under control, and three chutes came out.
      Since the ship was under control when last seen, hope was held that it might return to base.




Will be continued soon



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