When  this crew joined the 100th 24 Feb 44 the ROG was T/Sgt Weston H. Rodkey. On 6 MAR 44 T/Sgt Michael J. Tanowigch, Original 100th from the Sammy Barr Crew #4 was flying in place of Rodkey. The crew with the exception of Tanowigch (On his second tour) had flown four (4) missions. Koper ordered the crew to bail out, remaining to fly the aircraft during the bail out and was alone in the aircraft when it exploded.

An un-identified eyewitness reported as follows: "At 1213 hours north of Hanover an aircraft which may have been #051 was attacked by enemy fighters and was shot down. Four or five chutes were seen. This sighting is not definitely identified as # 051 - it could have been #170."