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SGT  Dewey ESSARY

UNIT: 351st BOMB Sqdn POSITION: BTG
SERIAL #: 06238036 STATUS: KIA
MACR: 03026 CR: 03026

Comments1: 6 MAR 44 BERLIN (AIRCRAFT THOUGHT TO HAVE EXPLODED)

COMMENTS & NOTES

MEMO 1:

CREW

2nd Lt Merril T.Rish                      P KIA     6/3/44  BERLIN
2nd Lt Frank A.Smith                  CP KIA     6/3/44  BERLIN
2nd Lt Royal W..Lingenfelter     NAV POW   6/3/44  BERLIN                                    TAPS: 1975
2nd Lt Donald K.Kehm             BOM POW   6/3/44  BERLIN                                     TAPS: 1977                                   A/C #42 38044
S/Sgt George F.Danehower      ROG POW   6/3/44  BERLIN                                                                                  MACR #3026,Micro fiche #1023
 S/Sgt Howard T.Skaggs,Jr.      TTE POW    6/3/44  BERLIN                                    TAPS: 1980
 S/Sgt Estil V. McGuffee          LWG POW    6/3/44  BERLIN
  Sgt Angus Alsup                     TG KIA       6/3/44  BERLIN
  Sgt Armand C.Burt               RWG POW     6/3/44  BERLIN
  Sgt Chester L.Powell              BTG KIA     28/5/44 GERA, CITY & MAGDEBURG, OIL REF (With crew of L.G.Lacy)

351st Sqdn. Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 28/11/43.

On 6/3/44, Sgt.Powell was replaced by Sgt.DEWY ESSARY who was KIA. This was about the 17th mission for this 
crew but only the 4th for ESSARY.See: p44 S.O.C. 

 A statement given by Don Kehm (then a Master Sgt) a short time after the war is as follows:  ".....Greman fighters attacked in a group out of the sun at 12 O'clock high. We recieved numerous hits, fire was visible around #3 engine. The plane immediately went into a tight spin. Centrifugal force prevented me from releasing the escape hatch. Ships inter phone was not operating. At about 3, 000 feet the tail broke off of the aircraft and the ship then began to climb & I could see all the objects coming toward me. The plane must have exploded as next I awoke on the ground with two German soldiers approaching me. I was taken to Quackenbush (Quackenbruck) jail."

According to statements by Estil V. McGuffee, he, Howard T. Skaggs, and Royal W. Lingenfelter were blown out but George F. Danehower, Armand C. Burt and Donald K. Kehm may have baled out.

Sgt Esssry's dog tags were found in the wreckage and it is thought his remains were have been consumed by the fire.

THIS CREW IS PICTURED IN KEITH FERRIS'S FAMOUS PAINTING OF THE THREE 100TH AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY OF HASELEUNNE ON THE BERLIN MISISON OF 06 MAR 44.  THE PAINTING CAN BE SEEN ON THE COVER OF THE BOOK "TARGET BERLIN; MISSION 250" BY JEFFREY L ETHELL AND ALFRED PRICE.  RISH'S  AIRCRAFT IS TOP PLANE IN THE THREE PLANE PAINTING, IT IS FURTHER IDENTIFIED BY THE SQUADRON MARKINGS OF EP  -  R.

MEMO 2:


			

             
            

         

         
KIA / MIA / EVA / INT INFORMATION: 
  
         

  

    TARGET:
			Berlin
    DATE: 
			1944-03-06
     
  

  

    AIRCRAFT:
	"Spirit o' 44" (42-39044)
    CAUSE:
			EAC & Explosion
     
  



			


			

            
BURIAL INFORMATION

            

  

    PLOT:
			
    ROW:
			
     
  

  

    GRAVE:
			Wall/Misng
    CEMETERY:
			Netherlands Cemetery/Margraten
     
  



			
			
            

				
        
		
        ID:
			1527