I've also determined that after flying 8 Oct to Bremen, and 9 Oct to Marienburg, they (Lohof Crew) actually took off on the 10 Oct mission to Munster, but had to abort due to their #2 and #3 engines overheating---but by the grace of God...

The other night I called up Robert Vollmer. He confirmed they (100th BG) were the very tip of the spear that day--nothing but the enemy ahead of them, the entire 8th Air Force behind them. As for the recall of the mission, Vollmer, of course, had received the call, but Capt Lohof / Capt Putnam did not. Intent on maintaining radio silence, Vollmer attempted to communicate the fact of the recall to dad/Putnam using what he called a "code gun" aka a "blinker," even now so many years later still showing slight frustration over why they didn't pickup the recall message and why they could not understand his attempts. He had not known that their radio was faulty (per Putnam's letter to Crosby). Neither had he known that they had determined to turn back anyway, first with an initial slight 5-10 degree left course change and climb to get on top of the weather into clear sky. Once clear, they would then complete the turn back and head for home. Of course, no sooner did they finally climb out of the clouds, than they were shot down. Anyway, I attach my quick recap of my phone conversation with him.

"3 Mar 44-BERLIN. Flying his 14th mission, Vollmer flew on Capt. Lohof’s left wing on this day. Murderer’s Row was not his normal ship, which was unavailable after the mission the day before to Chartre, France. The crew flying that mission reached the magic 25 and burned out several of the 50 cal. barrels on board, apparently in celebration. Vollmer recalled picking up the recall message, but tried vainly flashing it to Dad (via "code gun" in order not to break radio silence. Vollmer figured they had time to figure it all out, so elected to maintain silence. (So many years later, he showed distinct frustration over why they didn't pick up the recall message—he did not know their radio was faulty—and why they could not understand his attempts.) Hardly had the three planes emerged from the overcast, than six FW-190s knocked Vollmer and dad down on the first pass, and seriously damaged Lt Gossage."- Lt Vollmer

Regarding George Briggs' death in April 1945, Sid Goldenberg told me one account; I've discovered another differing one in the Casualty Reports completed after liberation by my dad Capt. Lohof and his copilot William Vaden. Goldenberg (and Nancy Putnam, who first related it to me) explained that after the SS took over the POW camps from the Luftwaffe in late 1944, things got very serious and tensions built rapidly on both sides. It seems that during a curfew Briggs was sighted outside the barracks and shot by a guard. He died some days later of an infection that had set in. The Casualty Reports, however, have it entirely differently. They indicate that during a forced march Briggs collapsed in an epileptic-type fit and died on a road somewhere. Hopefully, I might nail down which is fact as I interview the remaining crewmembers.

• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Air Medal (w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Presidential Unit Citation
• European, African, Middle East Campaign (w/ one Battle Star)
• WW2 Victory Medal
• French Croix de Guerre