| 2nd Lt |
Merril T. Rish |
P |
KIA |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin |
| 2nd Lt |
Frank A. Smith |
CP |
KIA |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin |
| 2nd Lt |
Royal W. Lingenfelter |
NAV |
POW |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin (TAPS 1975) |
| 2nd Lt |
Donald K. Kehm |
BOM |
POW |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin (TAPS 1977) |
| S/Sgt |
George F. Danehower |
ROG |
POW |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin |
| S/Sgt |
Howard T. Skaggs, Jr. |
TTE |
POW |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin (TAPS 1980) |
| S/Sgt |
Estil V. Mc Guffee |
WG |
POW |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin |
| S/Sgt |
Aramand C. Burt |
WG |
POW |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin |
| Sgt |
Angus Alsup |
TG |
KIA |
06 Mar 44 |
Berlin |
| Sgt |
Chester A. Powell |
BTG |
KIA |
28 May 44 |
Gera, City; Magdeburg, Oil (L. G. Lacy crew) |
351st Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 28/11/43.A/C #
42-38044
MACR #3026, Micro Fiche #1023
On 6/3/44, Sgt. Powell was replaced by Sgt. DEWY ESSARY who was KIA.
This was about the 17th mission for this crew but only the 4th for
ESSARY.
Story Of the Century, page 44: Merril Rish, whose fuselage burned,
stuck close to formation but after a lapse of seconds his ship exploded, he
and his co-pilot inside.
A statement given by Don Kehm (then a Master Sgt) a short time after
the war is as follows: ".....Greman fighters attacked in a group out of
the sun at 12 O'clock high. We received numerous hits, fire was visible
around #3 engine. The plane immediately went into a tight spin.
Centrifugal force prevented me from releasing the escape hatch. Ships
inter phone was not operating. At about 3, 000 feet the tail broke off of
the aircraft and the ship then began to climb & I could see all the
objects coming toward me. The plane must have exploded as next I awoke on
the ground with two German soldiers approaching me. I was taken to
Quackenbush (Quackenbruck) jail."
According to statements by Estil V. McGuffee, he, Howard T. Skaggs, and
Royal W. Lingenfelter were blown out but George F. Danehower, Armand C.
Burt and Donald K. Kehm may have baled out.
Sgt Esssry's dog tags were found in the wreckage and it is thought his
remains were have been consumed by the fire.
THIS CREW IS PICTURED IN KEITH FERRIS'S FAMOUS PAINTING OF THE THREE
100TH AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY OF HASELEUNNE ON THE BERLIN MISSION OF 06
MAR 44. THE PAINTING CAN BE SEEN ON THE COVER OF THE BOOK "TARGET BERLIN;
MISSION 250" BY JEFFREY L ETHELL AND ALFRED PRICE. RISH'S AIRCRAFT IS TOP
PLANE IN THE THREE PLANE PAINTING, IT IS FURTHER IDENTIFIED BY THE
SQUADRON MARKINGS OF EP - R.
Copyright © Robert Bailey |
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