COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
2nd Lt William M.Beddow P KIA 10/10/43 MUNSTER
2nd Lt Richard W.Brooks CP POW 10/10/43 MUNSTER
2nd Lt Israel Levine NAV KIA 10/10/43 MUNSTER
2nd Lt Milton E.Harness BOM POW 10/10/43 MUNSTER
T/Sgt John T. Sullivan ROG KIA 10/10/43 MUNSTER
T/Sgt Jones P. Ingram TTE RFS Transferred to GND due to injury during mission ( Purple Heart
S/Sgt Dan Q.James TTE POW 10/10/43 MUNSTER
S/Sgt Walter E. Zoldak BTG KIA 10/10/43 MUNSTER
S/Sgt Samuel M.Hicks RWG KIA 10/10/43 MUNSTER
S/Sgt Robert J.Lynch LWG KIA 10/10/43 MUNSTER
S/Sgt Richard R.Munger TG POW 10/10/43 MUNSTER
351st Sqdn. Tenth mission for crew. A/C#42 30723 "SEXY SUZY MOTHER OF TEN"
Levine is not listed in S.O.C. as either KlA,MlA, or POW. The MACR notes that Levine and Zoldak were "Determined Dead" the others are noted as "Killed In Action".
Letter from Dan James (7/3/84) says that crew joined the 100th Group "first part of Sept." . . . Sgts Hicks & Lynch were replacements on crew. They replaced T/Sgt Jones P.Ingram and another man I do not remember." James adds that "our plane was downed by a German fighter." jb
Statememt by Milton E. Harness: "Co-pilot (Richard W. Brooks). West Roxbury, Mass., said Pilot had chute on anddid not appear to be injured, but we think it likely the plane exploded in mid-air, as the oxygen system was afire and there appeared to be a gasoline fire in the bomb bay. Bill (William M. Beddow) probably was killed in the plane. Plane was on bombing run and time about 1500 hours."
MISSIONS FOR LT WILLIAM M. BEDDOW (mpf 2001)
1. 09/09/43 BEAUVAIS
2. 15/09/43 PARIS
3. 16/09/43 LAPALLICE
4. 26/09/43 PARIS
5. 27/09/43 EMDEN
6. 02/10/43 EMDEN
7. 04/10/43 HANAU
8. 08/10/43 BREMEN
9. 09/10/43 MARIENBURG
10. 10/10/43 MUNSTER
Tech/Sgt. Dan James, 100th Bombardment Group, 8th USAAF confirmed: "During that march I witnessed the most pitiful and dreadful sight. When we were marching past Mauthausen Concentration Camp, after about a week on the march, we passed a few thousand Jewish people marching along the road. Each one had a yellow star on his clothes. Some did not have shoes, and their clothing was so ragged that it was falling off them. They stank very badly, and were so thin that their bones almost protruded They were going to their deaths in the gas chambers of Mauthausen.
"The Jewish people were guarded by SS troops, and many were falling by the roadside because of their exhausted condition. Their SS guards would club their heads with rifle butts. At one small hill on the road, about 200 yards in length, I counted eight bodies.
"This was the most tragic and barbaric sight that I have ever seen in my life."
While researching the William M. Beddow crew I found the following and have confirmation of the deaths of; JOL
MILTON E. HARNESS, BORN 12 AUGUST, 1923----TAPS 22 FEB, 2009,PLANT CITY,FLORIDA
DAN Q. JAMES, BORN 22 MARCH,1921-----TAPS 21 AUG,1993 LAFOLLETE,TN.
Richard R Munger
Pennellville, New York
Born:October 13, 1920
Died:September 25, 2001
Age At Death: 80.
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My cousin Bill Beddow was pilot of a l7 during WWII. Some years ago, perhaps in the 60s or early 70s a friend, Butch Goodwin...also a member of the Bloody Hundredth, was working for the NASA in Houston, TX, called me and reported that Bill's name was mentioned in what I believe was Chapter 2 of a book that had been sent to him for any revisions he believed were necessary for the full honesty of the book.. Bill was killed in the Dresden raid. I'm anxious to find any info possible of Bill. Presently I'm 76 years old and an Army Air Corps brat. My dad was a test pilots in the US for the duration.
If any of your members has memories regarding Bill, please send me info care of your website and I will contact them.
Thanks so much for you help in this...i wasn't very old, but I adored my cousin.
Barbara Jones Montgomery=barbmont43@cox.net
MEMO 2:
Did not jump, had chute on and appeared uninjured when Co-Pilot left cockpit.
