349th Sqdn. . Crew flew A/C 42-5861 XR-J Laden Maiden (Named by Squadron CO William Veal and later flown by Cowboy Owen Roane). When the crew joined the 100th Gp on 1 Dec 1943, Sgt Philp Wagner was a WG instead of James W. Parham. According to a family member of Sgt Weintraub, this was the crew’s first Mission.

EYEWITNESS: (S/Sgt John J. Strang): One B-17 from the high squadron fell behind and three (3) FW-190S followed the B-17 that went down in flames.

LUDWIGSHAVEN MISSION, DECEMBER 30, 1943:
Lt Leininger in A/C #861 was hit by flak at 12:35 hours and dropped out of formation. At various times on the route from the target both #3 and #4 engines were feathered and started again. At one time the aircraft was able to regain its position in the formation, but in some reshuffling of the formation, it dropped behind just as some enemy fighters attacked at 13:42 hours. It was hit by three enemy aircraft from 9 O'clock low. It appeared that at least one of the three fighters fired a rocket into the ship at close range. The entire left wing caught fire and part of the tail section broke off. Diving towards the undercast it was followed by several enemy fighters. It appeared under control when last seen. From 1-4 chutes were reported before the plane disappeared into the undercast near 4905 N -0438 E. (from Bill Thompson's MACR Reports) mpf 2001

Report in MACR indicates McChesney and Compton were successful evadees and arrived back in the United Kingdom 17 Apr 1944.

The eight dead, except for Sgts Parham and Matulik, now rest in the Epinal American Cemetery; this from Charles Compton in 1988. (pw)