351st Sqdn. Joined 100th Group, as above, on 11/2/45. On 10/4/45, Lt. John D. Gross from the crew of J. J. Dodrill was the NAV in place of Kenneth Peiffer. James R. Dotson, pilot of his own crew, was flying as CP in place of Charles Dixon. Also aboard were T/Sgt Arthur T. Flowers as NG (Tog) in place of Harry Chase, and S/Sgt Robert B. Patterson as Radar Con.

Eyewitness: (MACR # 14170 " A/C 963 was forced to peel out of the formation with #2 engine feathered. Then it tried to climb back when ME 262's began pressing attack. The A/C was hit in the right wing and a large piece flew off. Then#3 & #4 engines burst into flames and it peeled off low to the right. As it went down flames were larger and it was believed to hit the ground with a terrific explosion. No chutes were seen.

Statement by Shaerwood: "The plane was breaking up when I got out and I was of the opinion that no other crew member parachuted. I saw no other chutes. When I hit the ground, I did not see any of the crew. "

To Michael Faley : Michael, I must have mis-spoken to Paul West in 1993 about Lt Ken Pfister's involvement on Wofford's crew. I don't know when he joined the 100th, but my recollection [thru memory and later communications with him after locating him in Florida] of his involvement with the crew was as co-pilot for Wofford on sorties after VE Day. I agree with you in that I don't think he flew combat missions with Wofford. Pfister related to me that he had been a fighter pilot by training but had been a late transfer into bombers because that was where the need was. There were many such post VE Day flights made for various reasons in which only skeleton EM crews participated. For example, only TTE Davenport [and perhaps ROG Laskow] went on most of these. I recall standing in as TTE on one such flight to Munich in this manner. I would imagine these are the type of flights Pfister flew as co-pilot since he related to me one such flight to [Northern ?] Ireland. One further update on Wofford [that is perhaps noteworthy and has never been shown on the 100^th site] is that he served briefly as the C. O. of the 418thSqd. At the tag end of the 100th's time in England; however this is not shown in "CONTRAILS" nor can I recall at the moment the source of this information as a "fact". My best regards and hope this covers your question. [Joe Urice 2001)

No he didn't mention who took over as pilot. Although I know they flew 5 or 6 missions before the hostilities ended. I know they flew a couple food drops in Holland and 2 or 3 missions over Germany.

He said that Dotson during training always stressed being able to handle other duties. Dad said he got to take the controls a couple times and fly the plane (during training) , he also got to make drops as well as operate the radio. He told me that Dotson and the crew were trainers of other crews (I think in Florida) and that the only reason that they actually got any combat time was because Dotson wanted to get "IN THE WAR" before it was over. Unfortunately for Dotson he got Killed when he went on his first mission as CP with another crew! ……. Jim Daubney, son of Sgt Walter Daubney

2nd Lt Charles F. Dixon took over Lt Dotson's crew when he was KIA on April 10, 1945 with Bazin Crew but CP Lt Pfister flew only two missions with Dixon Crew then was transferred to other crews.

2lt Lt. Charles F. DIXON missions as a First Pilot…

CHOWHOUND MISSIONS:

DP/POW FERRY FLIGHTS FROM AUSTRIA TO PARIS

From Capt. Ken Pfister 8-15-08
Subject: Dotson Crew w/Lt Pfister as copilot

I graduated fighter school, Eagle Pass, Texas. Class 44F-Ranked 5th in Class. I was sent to Aleo Field, Texas for P-51 transition. Mix up, no P-51's "Then Trouble", orders came thru to send all pilots to Amarillo Texas for B-17 Copilot School (Bad Bad News). Finished copilot training and sent to Tampa Florida. There I was assigned to Lt Dotson's Crew. Lt Dotson was First Pilot, Jim was a multi-engine instructor. He was not happy with a fighter pilot as his copilot (and the feeling was mutual). Finished crew training then sent to Hunter Field, Georgia. We flew a B-17G to Europe and were assigned to 100th Bomb Grp. I question the arrival date of March 31, 1945? I flew first mission April 10th. Jim Dotson was assigned to Lt. Bazin's Crew as Co-Pilot. German Air Force put 60 plus ME 262's in the air against us. Lt Charles Dixon was assigned as First Pilot on my crew. Lt Bazin's aircraft was shot head on, killed both pilots. Flew April 11th Mission with Lt Dixon (had major problems on both April 10 & 11 missions dropping bombs. I flew my next Mission the following day (April 12, 1945 Neuburg-scrubbed) with Lt Goldsmith (418th Squadron)-…. (I question this since our records show Lt Goldsmith crew arrived on April 11th to TA and would not have been combat ready for two more weeks…. MPF). Flew every mission till the end of the War. I was assigned to Lt Wofford's Crew. He was a Lead Crew at that time. Lt Carr (CP) of Wofford Crew was KIA April 7, 1945 Buchen mission. On one mission we dropped Napalm on a French Target. Flew all Holland Food missions with different first Pilots Flew all missions to Lintz Austria to Mauthausen Concentration Camp. The May 19th trip was very interesting and you would not believe how we handled Stretcher cases of Slave Labors. Flew with Lt McGeorge to Edinburgh, Scotland, stayed overnight then next day flew to a secret field in Ireland to pick up a single person. Flew to Casablanca overnight, then to Morocco. Picked up five French people and flew to a secret field in France. The War having ended in Europe, I volunteered for Japan. Checked out in P-47 thunderbolt at Thorpe Abbotts. Finally in Fighters but war in Japan ends so I am transferred to Munich, Germany to fly C-47 transports.

Source: 100th bomb Group Foundation database.