350th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 25 Aug 43.

This was the crew's eighth mission. Leo Cannon was replaced for this mission by Sgt. Robert H. Wussow who was KIA. Wussow was from the crew of Lt R. F. Claytor. Also on this 8/10/43 mission was Sgt Dextar B. Pate, LWG, who was KIA.

Apparently 2 bombs hung up in bomb bay over target (Bremen). A/C then hit by direct flak burst which blew one waist gunner out of ship. Hubbard later stated that he believed both Meadows & Evans were killed by the flak burst and that Bush said; "I'm getting the hell out of this plane" and bailed out of the nose hatch. Hubbard further states that he thought Bush''s chute caught fire and burned in midair

Statement of James Ward: "The reason I cannot answer most of the questions is because our plane had two bombs which failed to release, they were hit by flak, causing the plane to explode. I was lucky enough to get out alive with quite a few injuries, which caused me to go unconscious after I pulled my rip cord. Therefore I didn't see any more of the crew".

MISSIONS OF LT FRANK MEADOWS:

MACR #947 Micro fiche #313 350th Sqdn. Mission: Bremen A/C #42-30358 "PHARTZAC"
Date: 8 Oct. 1943

This was the eighth mission for all members of this crew with the exception of Bob Wussow & Dexter Pate. Wussow, the radio operator on the original crew #11-Lt Roy Claytor, was probably about at the end of his tour. Sgt Pate was likely a replacement on the crew and the number of his missions is not known.

Lt. Hubbard, after the war, stated; "The reason I cannot answer most of these questions is because our plane had two bombs that failed to release and received a flak hit which caused them to explode. I being lucky enough to get out alive with quite a few injuries that caused me to become unconscious after I pulled the rip cord. One waist gunner (Jim Ward)was blown thru the side of the plane as it exploded. His chute opened and he reached ground.

S. O. C. P. 20/23 has touching story of Agor ordering (in Sept. ) roses to be sent to his mother in Shamokin, Pa for Christmas. They arrived many weeks after his death.

S. O. C. p. 22 "James Ward, a gunner blown out of . Meadows’ ship, pulled the rip cord before his mind blotted out, and Bill Hubbard, descending in his chute, saw Meadow's Fort drop by a super-highway near Bremen. Hubbard was clapped in "solitary", and threatened with death unless he would "talk", but he refused, and the Germans forced him to walk 100 miles to prison. Ward was unconscious 10 days in a hospital. " The dead of this crew were buried in a cemetery at Waller Friedhof, near Bremen.

NOTE (Crew 28 Apr 44):

COL KELLY COMMANDED THE 100TH FOR ONE WEEK AND TWO DAYS. HE WAS LOST ON HIS FIRST MISSION TO SOTTEVAST. AT TAKE-OFF TIME THE NEW COMMANDER ELECTED TO BUMP THE 100TH'S BEST FLIGHT LEADER (CAPT JACK SWARTOUT) AND LEAD HIMSELF. THE RESULTS WERE A DISASTER, TWO SHIPS WERE LOST WHEN THE COL ELECTED TO MAKE A SECOND RUN OVER THE TARGET AT THE SAME ALTITUDE AND ON THE SAME HEADING. AMONG THE KIA'S WAS THE 100TH BELOVED LEAD NAVIGATOR JOSEPH "BUBBLES" PAYNE; SAID BY JIM BROWN AND HARRY CROSBY TO HAVE BEEN THE BEST.

This was what can best be called a "pick-up" crew of veteran airmen, with the exception of Col. Kelly fresh from the States and had became the 100th's Commanding Officer only nine days prior to the mission. Joe "Bubbles" Payne was a member of the original air echelon of the Group as were T/Sgt James C. Brown and S/Sgt Albert M. Freitas. With the exception of Magee Fuller, they were the last of the "Original 100th" to become casualties.

T/Sgt Leo R. Cannon joined the Group in August 1943, his original crew (F. H. Meadows) was shot down at Bremen 08 Oct 1943. Capt William G. Lakin had been with the Group prior to October 1943.

". . . . On 02 May 1944, at 0730 hours an American Airman was captured by two German soldiers on the street of Rochville, Sottevast, France. The Germans record the following data: Name: Cain, Maurice # 0-681859. According to his statement he rescued himself from the burning aircraft on 28 April 1944. Sent to Airbase Command, Paris, France. . Date 3 May 1944 @ 1320 hours. " The Originating German Officer is not identified. . pw