On 3 September 1943, clouds obscured the primary target, the Renault plant in Paris, so the formation proceeded to its secondary target   the Beaumont le Roger Airdrome. There are conflicting accounts as to exactly what occurred, but the consensus seems to be that, while on the bomb run, the plane flown by Richard King (Crew #26) received a direct flak burst amidships and suddenly moved upwards striking the tail section of the ship flown by Crew #23. King's ship then rapidly lost altitude and the plane carrying Crew #23 exploded in mid air. One or more bombs released by Floyd's plane may have struck King's aircraft.

Of interest in this regard is the following statement given by Robert Rosenburg many months after the event:

"At about 0920 I began re loading the nose guns from the ammunition case on which I was sitting while the bombardier kept a sharp lookout. I had finished loading two of the guns when the pilot began to say something over the intercom. Before he could finish speaking, he, the copilot and bombardier apparently saw German fighters re foaming to renew the attack. I began firing the right nose gum at an incoming fighter and while so engaged felt the plane jump violently. Observers whom I met later tell me that a plane salvaged its bombs from the high squadron just before it blew up.. One of the bombs hit our already damaged and feathered #3 engine and caused our plane to maneuver into the plane of the flight leader (This was Lt. V. Fienup‑‑Crew #21), from which plane, already on fire, the crew members were bailing out. Our plane was now out of formation with the left wing tip and right mid‑wing section ablaze. The pilot and co‑pilot were still fighting and managing to retain a modicum of control. German fighters were closing in on us and everybody was concentrating on returning the fire of these oncoming ships. Word came across the intercom to abandon ship but before I could make a move, the ship seemingly exploded. I recovered consciousness four days later. We were not permitted any freedom while in the hospital at Paris but from what little I could learn, the bombardier, Frank C. Coon, and I were the only survivors. All the while we were imprisoned, we fruitlessly sought to learn of some small word of the fate of the rest of the crew."

When Al Barker, regular pilot of this crew, was made Squadron Operations Officer, Charles Floyd moved from the co pilot's seat and Jack Boyd, who had flown overseas with the Group as a spare, became the co pilot. Boyd was KIA.

Lt. Peter Theodore, Assistant Station Gunnery Officer and a very early member of the 100th Group, was under no duty or obligation to fly combat missions but he firmly believed that only by knowing at first hand the problems encountered by combat crew gunners could he be of help to them and gain their trust and respect. This was his fourth mission and he had demonstrated great courage and coolness in action. Flying in the position normally manned by Sgt. Edwin I. Morgan, Theodore was KIA.

For the mission of 6 Sept 1943, Norman Brett's place was taken by Sgt. James E. Speakman who became an Internee. No further knowledge of Brett has come to light.

Sam Turner made the following statement regarding his crew's last flight:

Turner was slightly wounded in the chest by a 20-mm fragment. He was returned to the U.S. in March 1944.

Morris Weinberg stated that Moloney was hit by a 20-mm between the shoulder blades sometime before reaching Switzerland. He was buried at Bad Ragaz and later removed to the American cemetery at Munsterlingen.

This was the first crew of the 100th Group to finish its tour of 25 sorties and qualify as "Lucky Bastards."

It is understood by this writer that Tim Cavanaugh and Francis Chaney were both killed in the crash of a B 29 not long after their return to the U.S.

Barney Sutton had flown six or seven missions when he recieved an appointment as an Aviation Cadet and was returned to the U.S. for training. He became a Navigator and returned to the Eighth Air Force for duty with the 398th Bomb Group.

In a letter to this writer in 1979 Sutton had this to say: "The esprit de corp of the 398th was nothing to match that of the 100th. However, at that time the 100th had been shot down twice, and I feel sure the 398th had suffered also."

The .following statement was made by Trafford Curry who evaded capture and returned to England in early 1944:

Just before I jumped, I looked back and saw Lt. King and his copilot . adjusting their chutes. After my chute opened I saw several other chutes come from my A/C, but never knew who they were. The A/C disappeared still in level flight and I learned later that it crashed in a field several miles away, still in level flight but exploded soon after. I was not able to obtain any information about any of my crew members."