Bombing

The crew was taking part to the attack of a Japanese ship while approaching the target, the seaplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 12 crew members.

The heavy bomber left Truscott AFB at 0650LT on a bombing mission over Bali and Lombok. Shortly after takeoff, the crew contacted the tower to inform that he encountered problems to gain height. Several distress calls were sent and 23 minutes later, the aircraft crashed into the Vansittart Bay, off Truscott. All 12 crew members were killed and only three bodies were found.
Crew (24th Squadron):
S/L N. H. Straus, pilot,
F/Sgt Boyd, copilot,
F/Sgt R. M. Morris, flight engineer,
F/Lt C. D. Parry-Okenden, navigator,
F/O R. A. Whiting, navigator,
F/O J. W. Hursthouse, wireless operator and air gunner,
W/O W. R. Flanagan, wireless operator and air gunner,
W/O H. G. Parker, air gunner,
F/Sgt J. R. Ryan, air gunner,
F/Sgt A. J. Rogers, air gunner,
Sgt A. D. Whitehead, air gunner,
Cpl D. W. Madden.

Shortly after takeoff from Venosa AAF, while climbing, a life raft deployed accidentally in the cabin, went through the left door intentionally let opened and hit the port stabilizer. The captain ordered his crew to bail out and three of them were able to abandon the aircraft before it crashed in a field located 13 km northeast of Spinazzola, about 25 km east of Venosa. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and seven other crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Erwin W. Bussick, navigator, †
T/Sgt Richard H. Callaham Jr., flight engineer, †
1st Lt William Craven Jr., †
Maj Philip Edward Cummings, pilot, †
S/Sgt Aloysius F. Gasiorek, †
1st Lt Glenn Wilson Jones, copilot, †
S/Sgt Mike J. Kovich, air gunner, †
T/Sgt George Kavanaugh, radio operator,
S/Sgt Richard Peath Ball, air gunner,
Lt Argie Simmons, bombardier

In flight, the aircraft collided with another USAAF B-17 registered 43-38273 and also carrying a crew of nine. Both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field near Ostend. All 18 crew members on both aircraft were killed. They were engaged in a bombing mission to Ulm, Germany.
Crew (42-38035):
1st Lt Charles Joseph Armbruster,
2nd Lt Robert W. Davis,
Sgt Arthur W. Herold,
Sgt Joe F. Jones,
Sgt Robert A. Mason,
S/Sgt Allan M. Saarnio,
Sgt Charles J. Slavin,
S/Sgt John R. Stringi,
2nd Lt Howard M. Tripp Jr.

Crew (43-38273):
T/Sgt Charles L. Abney Jr.,
2nd Lt George C. Burger,
S/Sgt Harry E. Clabaugh,
S/Sgt James W. Hendon Jr.,
2nd Lt Robert E. Keenan,
S/Sgt Stanley J. Lejkowski,
1st Lt Alexander Rusecky,
T/Sgt Vincent L. Verderame,
S/Sgt Thomas K. Welch.

In flight, the aircraft collided with another USAAF B-17 registered 42-38035 and also carrying a crew of nine. Both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field near Ostend. All 18 crew members on both aircraft were killed. They were engaged in a bombing mission to Ulm, Germany.
Crew (43-38273):
T/Sgt Charles L. Abney Jr.,
2nd Lt George C. Burger,
S/Sgt Harry E. Clabaugh,
S/Sgt James W. Hendon Jr.,
2nd Lt Robert E. Keenan,
S/Sgt Stanley J. Lejkowski,
1st Lt Alexander Rusecky,
T/Sgt Vincent L. Verderame,
S/Sgt Thomas K. Welch.

Crew (42-38035):
1st Lt Charles Joseph Armbruster,
2nd Lt Robert W. Davis,
Sgt Arthur W. Herold,
Sgt Joe F. Jones,
Sgt Robert A. Mason,
S/Sgt Allan M. Saarnio,
Sgt Charles J. Slavin,
S/Sgt John R. Stringi,
2nd Lt Howard M. Tripp Jr.

The crew left Lyon-Bron Airport on a bombing mission to south Germany. Shortly after takeoff, a technical failure forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing but the aircraft crash landed in a field located in Colombier-Saugnieu. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.
Crew (Groupe II/20 Bretagne)
S/Lt Hentges, pilot,
Sgt Bourrassier, copilot,
S/Lt Alexandre Dravert, flight engineer, †
S/Lt Pernot, navigator,
Sgt Vezan, air gunner,
Sgt Louis Moulard, radio operator. †

The crew was engaged in a mission consisting to bomb bridges over the Isarco - Albes railroad, in the region of Bolzano. In flight, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak and the captain left the combat area and elected to fly to Trieste to ditch the aircraft. Eventually, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Adriatic Sea, off Grado. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Howard Hanson, pilot,
S/Sgt Albert L. Acampora,
2nd Lt Edward H. Betz,
T/Sgt Lawrence W. Brady,
S/Sgt James S. Cox,
2nd Lt Clarence L. Dragoo,
2nd Lt Darrell E. German,
2nd Lt Richard M. Horwitz,
S/Sgt Thomas M. McGraw,
T/Sgt Lawrence F. Nally,
S/Sgt Adolph Turpin.

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over an oil refinery located in Lützkendorf. Enroute, while approaching Eisenberg, the B-17 registered 43-39149 collided with a second USAAF B-17 registered 42-31060 and also carrying a crew of 9. The first B-17 went out of control, dove into the ground and crash in the city of Eisenberg. Eight crew members were killed and ten people on the ground as well. Only one crew member survived. The second B-17 flew to the east over 400 km and then crashed in a field in Jaraczewo, Poland. Five crew were killed and four others were injured.
Crew of 42-31060:
Sgt Marion L. Canfield, air gunner, †
Sgt Floyd C. Doherty Jr., air gunner, †
F/O Odus C. Litzelfelner, copilot, †
1st Lt Alfred K. Nemer, pilot, †
Sgt Peter M. Volpini, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Harry H. Schultz, navigator,
T/Sgt Howard H. Ganson,
Sgt Floyd S. Bohrer, air gunner,
Sgt Paul L. Kerr, air gunner.

Crew of 43-39149:
2nd Lt Robert J. Barrat, pilot, †
F/O Shirl P. Best, navigator, †
2nd Lt Dean Harvey, copilot, †
S/Sgt William T. Karp, †
S/Sgt Matthew Lazarowicz, radio operator, †
Sgt Louis N. Linhart, air gunner, †
Sgt Herbert D. Link, air gunner, †
Sgt George H. Emerson, air gunner,
S/Sgt Raymond F. Reiss, flight engineer. †

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over an oil refinery located in Lützkendorf. Enroute, while approaching Eisenberg, the B-17 registered 43-39149 collided with a second USAAF B-17 registered 42-31060 and also carrying a crew of 9. The first B-17 went out of control, dove into the ground and crash in the city of Eisenberg. Eight crew members were killed and ten people on the ground as well. Only one crew member survived. The second B-17 flew to the east over 400 km and then crashed in a field in Jaraczewo, Poland. Five crew were killed and four others were injured.
Crew of 43-39149:
2nd Lt Robert J. Barrat, pilot, †
F/O Shirl P. Best, navigator, †
2nd Lt Dean Harvey, copilot, †
S/Sgt William T. Karp, †
S/Sgt Matthew Lazarowicz, radio operator, †
Sgt Louis N. Linhart, air gunner, †
Sgt Herbert D. Link, air gunner, †
Sgt George H. Emerson, air gunner,
S/Sgt Raymond F. Reiss, flight engineer. †

Crew of 42-31060:
Sgt Marion L. Canfield, air gunner, †
Sgt Floyd C. Doherty Jr., air gunner, †
F/O Odus C. Litzelfelner, copilot, †
1st Lt Alfred K. Nemer, pilot, †
Sgt Peter M. Volpini, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Harry H. Schultz, navigator,
T/Sgt Howard H. Ganson,
Sgt Floyd S. Bohrer, air gunner,
Sgt Paul L. Kerr, air gunner.

While flying over The Netherlands, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German Junkers JU.88. The captain ordered his crew to bail out and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field located north of Eindhoven. The captain was killed while six other occupants were safe.
Crew (153rd Squadron):
S/Ldr James Douglas Freeborn, †
Sgt L. T. A. Williams,
W/O H. L. Cosby,
F/Lt R. D. Morrison,
F/Sgt J. A. Eastman,
F/Sgt A. G. Pratt,
F/Sgt J. G. McNamara.