LT Arthur H. BECKTOFT |
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| UNIT: 349th BOMB Sqdn | POSITION: P | ||
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Norman Rockwell Dec 45 cover, | |||
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| SERIAL #: O-794613 | STATUS: POW | ||
| MACR: 00953 | CR: 00953 | ||
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Comments1: 8 OCT 43 BREMEN (EAC) |
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COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:CREW 2nd Lt Arthur H.Becktoft P POW 8/10/43 Bremen 2nd Lt Clifford M.Spencer CP POW 8/10/43 Bremen 2nd Lt Wayne A. Fuess NAV NOC (original Navigator on Crew) 2nd Lt Walter Nichols,Jr. NAV POW 8/10/43 Bremen (from crew of Lt John Gossage) 2nd Lt Robert L.Miller BOM POW 8/10/43 Bremen T/Sgt Elmer J.Williams TTE POW 8/10/43 Bremen T/Sgt Floyd A.Lowe ROG KIA 8/10/43 Bremen S/Sgt Charles E.Marengo BTG POW 8/10/43 Bremen S/Sgt Henry T.Popielarski WG POW 8/10/43 Bremen MACR#42 30154 S/Sgt John P. Wargo WG CPT 6/18/44 BRUNSBUTTELKOOG ' S/Sgt Andy P.Stanley TG POW 8/10/43 Bremen 349th Sqdn. A/C 42-30154 "War Eagle" XR-H Crew joined the 100th in Sept 3, 1943 This was the 6th or 7th mission for this crew except for Sgt.Hoffman (Edward J. Hoffman, Jr.) 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. Of the 8 OCT 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 b ail 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 stick that fateful day and two 17s were knocked out ahead of us and one exploded - left nothing but dust ..." Crew on October 8, 1943 2nd Lt Arthur H.Becktoft P POW 8/10/43 2nd Lt Clifford M.Spencer CP POW 8/10/43 2nd Lt Walter Nichols,Jr. NAV POW 8/10/43 2nd Lt Robert L.Miller B0M POW 8/10/43 T/Sgt Elmer J.Williams TTE POW 8/10/43 T/Sgt Floyd A.Lowe ROG KIA 8/10/43 S/Sgt Charles E.Marengo BTG POW 8/10/43 S/Sgt Henry T.Popielarski WG POW 8/10/43 MACR 953 42 30154 WAR EAGLE S/Sgt Edward J. Hoffman Jr. WG POW 8/10/43 S/Sgt Andy P.Stanley TG POW 8/10/43 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 (from possible KU report, ron-eindhoven, netherlands)MEMO 2:
Mission List for WAR EAGLE XR-H and Lt Arthur Becktoft Crew September 3, 1943, Becktoft Crew arrives at Thorpe Abbotts 10-14 days of Orientation Missions around England Date & Target: Aircraft: Status Crew 6/9/1943 Stuttgart War Eagle XR-H REM UNK 7/9/1943 Watton War Eagle XR-H P UNK 9/9/1943 Beauvais AF War Eagle XR-H P UNK 15/9/1943 Paris War Eagle XR-H P Lt Arthur Becktoft 16/9/1943 La Pallice War Eagle XR-H P Lt Arthur Becktoft 23/9/1943 Vannes AF War Eagle XR-H REM Lt Arthur Becktoft 27/9/1943 Emden War Eagle XR-H P Lt Arthur Becktoft 2/10/1943 Emden War Eagle XR-H P Lt Arthur Becktoft 4/10/1943 Hanau War Eagle XR-H P Lt Arthur Becktoft 8/10/1943 Bremen War Eagle XR-H FTR Lt Arthur Becktoft
KIA / MIA / EVA / INT INFORMATION:
| TARGET: Breman | DATE: 1943-10-08 | |
| AIRCRAFT: "War Eagle" (42-30154) | CAUSE: EAC |
BURIAL INFORMATION
| PLOT: | ROW: | |
| GRAVE: | CEMETERY: |
PHOTOS:
The Arthur H. Becktoft crew. Standing; (L to R) Floyd A. Lowe, Arthur H. Becktoft, Henry T. Popielarski, Wayne A. Fuess and Robert L. Miller. Kneeling; Andy P. Stanley, Charles E. Marengo, Clifford M. Spencer John P. Wargo and Elmer J. Williams. Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives)