Crew # A4
-- Aircraft #425865 -- "Jamie"
| Major |
John B. Kidd |
Pilot |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Capt |
Ollen Turner |
Pilot |
CPT |
-- |
-- |
| 1st Lt |
Robert K. Peel |
Bombardier |
POW |
15 March 1944 |
Brunswick |
| M/Sgt |
Robert E. Spangler |
Line Chief |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| M/Sgt |
Robert A. Boyle |
Radio |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| M/Sgt |
Emmet D. Swank |
Armament |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Sgt |
Jack Y. Hamlin |
S4 Clerk |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 1st Lt |
Edward B. Cosgriff |
Statistical Off. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| M/Sgt |
Clayton Kirkpatrick |
Group S2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| -- |
-- |
ATC Navigator |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Crew # A5 -- Aircraft #425863" -- Paddlefoot's Proxy"
| Major |
Robert E. Flesher |
Pilot |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| Capt |
Albert M. Elton |
Pilot |
CPT |
-- |
-- |
| T/Sgt |
Loyd C. Cresap |
Bomb Sight Maint. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| M/Sgt |
Gene A. VanGemert |
Line Chief |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| M/Sgt |
William R. Shultz |
Flight Chief |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| M/Sgt |
Joseph E. Hafer |
Radio |
POW |
10 October 1943 |
Munster |
| S/Sgt |
Rex F. Creitz |
Bomb Sight Maint. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| W/O |
Ralph L. DeLong |
Group S1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| 2nd Lt |
Jack C. Boyd |
COPilot |
KIA |
3 Sept. 1943 |
Beaumont le Roger AF |
| -- |
-- |
ATC Navigator |
-- |
-- |
-- |
THE
349th SQUADRON
Major William W. Veal, Commander (Retired a Major
General 1975)
Crew #1 -- Aircraft #4229986 -- M.A.C.R. #269
| Capt |
Oran E. Petrich |
P |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| 2nd Lt |
Bluford B. Mullins |
CP |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| 1st Lt |
Edward N. Jones |
N |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| 1st Lt |
Louis B. Grate |
B |
|
|
|
| T/Sgt |
Max P. Brim |
E |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
Joseph D. Bieu |
WG |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| T/Sgt |
Edward J. Zerblis |
R |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
Henry H. Rutherford |
BT |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
Pete S. Villalobes, Jr. |
WG |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
James M. Strong, Jr. |
TG |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
A complete and exact sequence of
events on this mission, the first flown by the 100th, is most difficult to
determine. Of the 30 men comprising crews #1, 2 and 3, only five survived
the mission and, of these, Nick Demchak is the only one who could be
located by this writer.
Demchak and I agree that the
100th on this day never completed a proper assembly. At the time of
leaving the English coast, the 349th, flying low squadron, was perhaps a
mile to the rear of the lead squadron led by Major Flesher of the 418th.
Both the lead and high squadrons seemed
scattered all over the sky and a true Group combat
formation never existed. The atrocious weather had a part in this
situation, but perhaps a larger role was that of the questionable judgment
of the Group leader.
At a point a little north of the
East Frisian islands, Crew #1, leading the first element, disappeared into
the undercast and was not seen again. No doubt it fell victim to enemy
fighters as did crews #2 and 3.Louie Grate, regular bombardier
on this crew, for same reason did not fly this first mission. His place
was taken by Lt. Stanley Morrison (KIA) who was the regular bombardier of
Crew #29 of the 418th Squadron. No further record of Grate's service with
the 100th has been found. Crew #2 -- Aircraft #423260 -- M.A.C.R. #271
| 1st Lt |
Alonzo P. Adams III |
P |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| F/O |
George Z. Krech |
CP |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| 2nd Lt |
Nicholas Demchak |
N |
POW |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| 2nd Lt |
Jesse D. Gurley |
B |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| T/Sgt |
John K. Sullivan |
E |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
Edmonde J. Walker |
WG |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| T/Sgt |
James D. Purcell |
R |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
John G. Kruzich |
BT |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
Norman Asbornsen |
WG |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
Bryant Hutchinson |
TG |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
This aircraft was flying on the
wing of Crew #1. According to Nick emchak, sole survivor, they were
jumped by fighters about 20 miles north of the Frisian islands. His
statement follows: "My mind is a complete blank from the time we got the
bailout signal until I regained consciousness on a German boat. Lt. Gurley
was in the nose of the ship and not hurt when we received the signal to
bail outI was firing my gun and did not hear the signal but Gurley
informed me. I believe Adams and Krech were severely wounded or killed by
a burst of machine gun fire which came quite close to me and from the
angle appeared to enter the cockpit. Directly after that, the bailout
signal was given. I believe the plane exploded at that moment and the rest
of the crew were killed by the explosion or rendered unconscious and
unable to operate chutes. The German boat that picked me up said they did
not see anyone else." Crew #3 -- Aircraft #4230038 -- M.A.C.R. #270
| 1st Lt |
Paul J. Schmalenbach |
P |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| F/O |
George W. Cox |
CP |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| 1st Lt |
John F. Brown |
N |
POW |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| 2nd Lt |
Jack L. Clark |
B |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| T/Sgt |
Eugene M. Beck |
E |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| Pvt |
Anthony J. Russon |
WG |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| T/Sgt |
Frank J. Podbielski |
R |
POW |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
Norman C. Goodwin |
BT |
POW |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
William C. Lucas |
WG |
POW |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
| S/Sgt |
Lewis W. Priegel |
TG |
KIA |
25-Jun-43 |
Bremen |
According to a German report this
plane was shot down "into the sea 20 km North of angerooge" one of the Frisian Islands and Norman Goodwin was recovered
from the sea, taken to a hospital on the island of Norderney where an
"amputation of his left thigh" was performed. Goodwin was subsequently
returned to the U.S.
John Brown was also picked up
from the sea and sent to a hospital at Sanderbusch. Both Frank Podbielski
and William Lucas were "recovered by a Coastguard boat at 1000 hours and
transferred to DulagLuft, Oberursel on 26 June 1943."A statement made by Frank
Podbielski in which he described the final minutes of his aircraft says,
in part, "After 30 minutes of combat action, the top turret guns were
silent. T/Sgt. Beck could have been wounded or killed. Sgt. Goodwin lay
wounded on the floor of radio room, Sgt. Russo lay wounded to the right of
the ball turret after administering first aid to Goodwin."
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