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MACR PILOT: 2Lt  Arthur H.  Becktoft  - O-794613
MACR: 00953 FICHE : 00315

ORGANIZATION
LOCATION: AAF Station #139 COMMAND: VIII AF GROUP: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
SQUADRON: 349th BS DETACHMENT:  
     

DETAIL
DEPARTURE:AAF Station #139 INITIAL COURSE: ENE  
INTENDED DESTINATION: Bremen    
MISSION TYPE:Operational    

WEATHER & VISIBILITY AT TIME OF LAST REPORT
CONDITION: CAVU    

GIVE
DATE: 1943-10-08 TIME: 14:55 LOCATION: 5 miles SE of Bremen

SPECIFY:

Last Sighted

CONFIRMED OR BELIEVED REASON FOR LOSS
LOSS DUE TO : Enemy anti-aircraft

OTHER REASON FOR LOSS:

AIRCRAFT: 42-30154
TYPE: B-17 SERIES: F  
     
     

ENGINES:
MODEL: R-1820-97    
A: 43-58629
B: 43-57898
C: 43-58698
D: 43-58342
    

INSTALLED WEAPONS:
A: 494066
B: 494030
C: 115939
D: 120087		 E: 119978
F: 120046
G: 120224
H: 115853		 I: 118135
J: 120150
K: Unknown
L: Unknown

PERSONS BELOW ARE LISTED AS:
CASUALTY TYPE: Battle casualty  
NUMBER OF PERSONS ON BOARD:    
CREW: 10 PASS: 0 TOTAL: 10

PERSONNEL:

POSITION NAME RANK SERIAL
P1
P2 Arthur H.  Becktoft 2Lt O-794613
CP Clifford M. Spencer 2Lt O-740968
NAV (N) Walter Nichols 2Lt O-749448
BOM (B) Robert L. Miller 2Lt O-738781
RAD Floyd A. Lowe TSgt 32383822
ENG Elmer J. Williams TSgt 17046939
BAL Charles E. Marengo SSgt 31203390
WG (W) Henry T. Popielarski SSgt 36501395
WG (W) Edward J. Hoffman Sgt 35393543
TG (T) Andy P. Stanley SSgt 13014129

PERSONS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAST KNOWLEDGE OF AIRCRAFT

Owen D. Roane F/O T-120216
Last sighted
Robert H. Lohof 2Lt T-121004
Last sighted    

PERSONNEL WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SURVIVED

REASON: Parachutes were used OTHER:  

EYEWITNESS DESCRIPTIONS OF CRASH

Report: 
A/C #154 was observed 5 miles SE of Bremen with #3 engine in flames.  It pulled out of formation under control.  (F/O Roane)

Saw A/C #154 with #3 engine burning just after IP.  Four chutes opened at 1455 hours.  Not sure they came from #154.  (Lt R. H. Lohof)
   
   
Second Witness: No Data  
Report: 

      

    





  
DESCRIPTION OF SEARCH EFFORT

  

    

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PREPARING OFFICER


PREPARED BY: CLAUDE L. HOSFORD 1st Lt  Air Corps Personnel Officer  


DATE PREPARED:
  1943-10-12


  



TRANSCRIBER NOTES



    
    REPORT: 
This was the 6th mission for this crew except for Sgt. Hoffman (Edward J. Hoffman was on his first mission, he had been a member of the quartermaster unit, but insisted on volunteering as a gunner) who was a replacement on this mission. He replaced John P. Wargo.  Plane was flying #3 in third element of the high squadron. Had released bombs on target when it was apparently attacked. Floyd Lowe hit between shoulder blades by a 20mm probably died instantly. All others bailed out and were immediately picked up by the Germans.

Letter (29/3/84) from C. E. Marengo indicates that his crew joined the 100th in Sept 1943. Sgt.  John P. Wargo was their regular WG but replaced by Hoffman on 8/10/43. Wargo CT on 18/6/44. Cliff Spencer died  1983 in CA of cancer. Lost track of other crew members. Says Nichols may have been a "new" navigator on crew. jb

Of the 8 Aug 43 mission, Marengo has this to say: "We were hit by ME 109s out of the sun. One took part of our tail off and hit #3 engine which burned. I called the pilot and advised him of the fire, but nothing was done. When the fire burned through the wing and they saw it they dove the plane to put out the fire. Part of the tail came off and we went into a spin. the order to bail out was given and I got out the ball and started for the door. then went back for my chest pack. Plane was nose down when I went out hooking the right chute clasp as I went. There was a waist gunner still near his gun when I left. I had never worn the harness before as I had swapped mine (which was too big) with another guy the day before, his was too small. Fate is I wore the smaller harness and am still alive. Floyd Lowe was hit  in the back with a 20mm during the attack and was gone. The co-pilot was the sick that fateful day and two 17s were knocked out ahead of us and one exploded - left nothing but dust ..."


by mine records the 42-30154 was crashed at 14.55 hrs in the outskirts of bremen the 42-30358 was crashed at Fisherhude due east of bremen  (possible KU report info)