Eyewitness Report:
"Aircraft #470 was hit by flak immediately after Bombs Away. The #3 engine was knocked loose and dropped off the wing. The aircraft nosed up, then leveled and started down for the undercast in a steep glide. At the Rally Point the pilot made a 180 degree turn and headed toward Russia. He was heard on VHF to say that the #4 propeller was running away and he was attempting to reach the Russian lines. The aircraft appeared under controls and no fire was seen. One chute was seen. Allied fighters were escorting the aircraft it appeared."

Statement of S/Sgt John E. Kaiser, Jr. Sn# 18243028:
The following information was received by Capt. Charles W. Terry, Station 139 Prisoner of War Officer from interrogation of S/Sgt Kaiser 24 Apr 1945. After which he returned to the Zone of Interior. S/Sgt Kaiser was flying as tail gunner and states that his aircraft was hit twice. After the first hit it remained in level flight and the engineer called on interphone to ask if he was all right. There were noises from the front that sounded like pieces of the plane were ripping away. When it was hit again a few seconds later the aircraft started down in a steep glide. He fastened on his chute and called over the interphone but no one answered. He looked back into the waist but could see nothing due to smoke. The aircraft was vibrating badly so he decided to get out. His clothing hung on the handle of the escape hatch and he was trapped there for about 30 seconds. He tried to climb back into the aircraft but was weak from lack of oxygen and could not, so he pulled up as far as possible and let go. This freed him from the plane so he opened his chute and looked down to find himself floating across a German Air Field located at 5059 N and 1231 E. As he floated over the woods just east of the AF he noticed hundreds of E/A (enemy aircraft) dispersed there. He landed in an open field just east of the woods and was momentarily unconscious. When he came to there were several soldiers (Luftwaffe personnel) approaching, so he stood up with his hands over his head.

After being captured and brought to a POW Camp at Weimer he was interrogated by a German Officer. The Interrogator asked him the names of the members of his crew. He gave their last names and was told his crew had crashed a few miles away with all being killed. As proof he produced a basket containing the dog tags, billfolds, watches , and other personal property of the men. S/Sgt Kaiser was allowed to look through this equipment and when he found the wedding ring of his Pilot 1st Lt. Arthur G. Larsen, Jr. he asked the interrogator if he would allow him to take it for Lt. Larsen's wife, He replied, "sure" and gave him the ring.