Bombing

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Gusap, causing the death of all 11 crew members.

The crew left RAF Deenethorpe in early morning bound for a synthetic oil refinery in Pölitz, Germany, as target. While cruising west of Bielefeld, the aircraft was hit by Flak and crashed in a prairie located in Steinhagen, some 9 km southwest of Bielefeld. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all ten occupants were taken POW.
Crew (614th Squadron):
1st Lt Samuel Phillips Wilson, pilot,
2nd Lt Elgin Volney Gattis, copilot,
1st Lt Lawrence Herman Sudakov, navigator,
1st Lt John Joseph Daly, bombardier,
T/Sgt Homer Cecil Kelley, radio operator,
T/Sgt Jesse Cromwell Corley, engineer and Top turret,
S/Sgt Beryle A. Corntassel, Ball Turret Gunner,
S/Sgt Leonard Edward Sokol, tail gunner,
Cpl John Elmer Morrissey, Left Waist Gunner,
S/Sgt William George Wolf, Right Waist Gunner.

The crew was engaged on a bombing mission over Aachen, Germany, and left RAF Coningsby at 2043LT. Following the raid over Aachen, still flying in the combat area, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Crew was able to leave the zone and tried to return to England when aircraft exploded and crashed in a field located near Duizel, some 15 km southwest of Eindhoven. Five crew members were killed while two others escaped and were later taken POW.
Crew (619th Squadron):
S/L John William Eunson Duncan McGilvray, pilot, †
Sgt Ivor Ronald Frank Haberfield, engineer, †
Sgt Raymond Hillier, air gunner, †
W/O Alexander Armstrong Munro, air gunner, †
P/O John Leonard Pritchard, air gunner, †
Ernest Drake,
Alfred Baker.

The bomber aircraft left RAF Bassingbourn in the morning bound for Cottbus as its target. En route, it was attacked by enemy fire. Engines number one and three were out of service, and the fourth engine failed shortly later. While approaching the Bornholm Island, the pilot decided to divert to Sweden and instructed all crew to bail out. Unfortunately, his parachute opened in the cabin so he was forced to attempt an emergency landing in an open field located in Vollsjö, south Sweden. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. All ten occupants were uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Lackin Shackin' was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (91st BG):
1st Lt F. C. Amman, pilot,
2nd Lt F. L. Butler, copilot,
1st Lt H. A. Levin, navigator,
2nd Lt P. H. McNulty, bombardier,
T/Sgt J. J. Lacorazza, top turret gunner,
T/Sgt F. D. Bynon Jr, radio operator and air gunner,
S/Sgt I. F. Kennedy, ball turret gunner,
S/Sgt H. Hornick, right & left waist gunner,
S/Sgt F. Martin, tail gunner
1st Lt P. E. Heacox, observer.

The crew was returning to his base in England following a bombing mission over Germany. While overflying the North of Germany, the aircraft was hit by Flak. The left engine was on fire while the right engine was misfiring and smoking. In such situation, captain decided to attempt an emergency landing some 8 km west of Schillig. All ten occupants were unhurt but taken POW while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission when it was attacked by enemy fire and crashed near Madang. Eight crew were killed while four others were taken as POW and later executed by the Japanese soldiers.

The bomber left RAF Attlebridge in the morning with Tutow Aerodrome as its target. En route, while cruising in formation with three other similar aircraft at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. Unable to maintain the prescribed altitude in the formation, the captain decided to leave the formation and while joining another one, the aircraft was attacked by enemy fire. Eight crew members bailed out when the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located near Lolland, Denmark. The two last crew members were killed while another occupant was killed as his parachute did not open.
Crew (466th BG):
2nd Lt Albert J. Taft, pilot,
2nd Lt Fernando A. Tellez, copilot,
2nd Lt Robert A. Marsh, navigator,
2nd Lt William T. Spitler, bombardier,
S/Sgt Donald C. Olson, radio operator,
T/Sgt Edward H. Gore, engineer,
Sgt Richard A. Johnson, ball turret gunner,
Sgt Gerrard Horton, tail gunner, †
Sgt Forest E. Kayser, right waist gunner, †
Sgt Zvonimir P. Sambol, left waist gunner, †

The bomber aircraft left RAF Seething on a bombing mission to Ludwigshafen. While cruising east of Paris, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire. All ten crewmen were able to bail out while the aircraft crashed in an open field located in Coulombs-en-Valois. Nine crew members were unhurt while one was killed as his parachute did not open.
Crew (448th BG):
Lt Harrison C. Mellor, pilot,
2nd Lt Douglas J. Eames, pilot,
2nd Lt Frank H. Jacobson, navigator,
T/Sgt Francis C. Marx, radio operator,
Lt Marvin Thomson Goff, air bomber,
S/Sgt Nelson A. Branch, air gunner,
Sgt Mike Little, air gunner,
S/Sgt Ira R. Allen, air gunner,
S/Sgt Walter T. Bressler, air gunner,
T/Sgt William A. Warren, air gunner, †

The aircraft left RAF Melbourne for a bombing mission over Nuremberg. While cruising in the region of Steinheim, the bomber was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a prairie. Four crew were killed while three others were rescued.
Crew (10th Squadron):
F/S W. T. A. Regan, pilot, †
F/S E. Birch, †
WO2 W. S. Norris,
F/S N. Wilmot,
Sgt R. W. Tindal, †
Sgt D. L. Smith, †
Sgt A. D. Lawes.

The bomber christened 'Sweet Adeline' left RAF Tholthorpe in the evening bound for Nuremberg as its target. While approaching the city from the north, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a prairie located between the villages of Kleingeschaidt and Tauchersreuth, some 10 km north of Nuremberg. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (425th Squadron):
F/O J. Taylor,
Sgt P. Furlong,
F/O G. Munro,
P/O F. Majchrowicz,
P/O J. Sheahan,
P/O A. De Witt,
F/Sgt P. Mitchell.