351st Sqdn. Original Crew #20. This was the fourth Crew lost by the Group

V. E. Fienup, E. V. Mulholland and T. E. Murphy reported last sighting of A/C. One of these gave following report: "#1 (Pearson) of 2nd Element approximately a mile from target and slightly behind other formation. Formation turned slightly to left. Pearson turned slightly to, the right and down. No 2 & 3 A/C of this Element followed throttled back and over ran Pearson. Pearson motioned for 2 & 3 A/C to go ahead. This left #2 & #3 in rear of formation These A/C proceeded to catch up. All during this time Pearson had bomb bays open. Pearson descended turning and heading west over water. All engines were turning. No props feathered or engine smoking. He descended very rapidly. Fienup saw 051 release bombs short of target, do a 180 turn and lose altitude. Reason unknown. "

Melville Boyd, Jr. later stated that all crewmembers bailed cut safely and landed on IL D Oleron. He last saw all crewmembers safe in U. S. In May 1979 Al Purcell returned a Crew roster of Crew #20 noting that all members except Dunbar were POWs. Dunbar an evadee. Enlisted men in Stalag 17-B. Al Purcell letter dated 9 Feb. 1980 . . . . "As we started our bomb run both inboard engines went out at the same time, which accounted for our loss of altitude so fast. Jack Goss(our engineer) told me later that the 2 engines lost power at the same time for no apparent reason, as if sugar or something had been put into the fuel. We dropped our bombs over the water and as I understood we were trying to make it to Spain. At this point ME 109s attacked us from the rear and knocked out another engine -- with, only one left we were ordered to bail out. We did shoot down 2 MEs. After the tail gunner I was the 3 or 4 man out. As I floated down I watched the plane crash and burn on the small island. Pearson landed in the water, Boyd broke an arm landing, Dunbar was lucky, the French hid him and he escaped capture. I had just enough time to roll up my chute before being picked up. The rest of the crew were picked up along with me. As for the engine failure -- Jack Goss gave me details at the time -- and said Pearson was questioned by the Germans as to why he was leading 2nd element instead of A flight. This made us think there was sabotage of some kind since the Group commander or some high ranking officer was to fly with us but changed his mind the night before the mission.

Subj: Requested Pictures
Date: 7/29/2001 11:41:51 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: theboyds@megalink. net (Mike Boyd)To: MPFaley@aol. com (Mike P Faley)

Hello Mike,

Good to hear from you again and thanks for the update. I have found some great pictures and documents. John Westwood sent me a picture of the entire crew together, along with others. I have attached 3 pictures:

1. Crew 20A - Left to Right: Standing M. Guy Boyd, Robert Pearson, Bruce Rinker, Lonnie Rutledge, Everett Moore ?? John Dunbar Front row Jack "Goose" Goss Randall Villa John Westwood Albert Purcell ??

2. Crew20B - Left to right Jack "Goose" Goss, Lonnie Rutledge, Randall Villa - seated John Westwood, Mr. Brown - (left crew -flight school)

3. My fathers picture from flight school

I have so many documents scanned and collected that a story is forming. Original Stalag records, debriefings, diaries, and censored letters, etc. One addition to the sabotage information is that Crew #20 missed the first 5 missions because they were in a place called "Wash" for advanced training. It appears this was due to a special officer and his staff planning to fly with them on July 4th for a secret mission. He backed out the night before. I tried to send other documents to Cindy Goodman, but I don't know what made it. The attachments are huge files as you can see. I had to scan them at a high resolution for clarity and preservation. Talk to her and see if any of that helps you. Keep in touch and let me know if I can provide any other information. I may not have my files complete for some time, but I will again offer a CD of what I have to date. Thanks Again, Mike

One addition to the sabotage information is that Crew #20 missed the first 5 missions because they were in a place called "Wash" for advanced training. It appears this was due to a special officer and his staff planning to fly with them on July 4th for a secret mission. He backed out the night before.

Subj: Nevada Wildcat
Date: 7/29/2001 11:55:28 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: theboyds@megalink. net (Mike Boyd)To: MPFaley@aol. com (Mike P Faley)

Mike, One other item I forgot to mention. Because the crew was in advanced training they never got to do the nose art. They were going to name the plane Nevada Wildcat after the pilot Bob Pearson.