351st Bomb Group

1. Target
   1. Name – Kiel
   2. Location – Machine Shop
   3. Name of Secondary – Submarine Slips
   4. Location of Secondary – Kiel
   5. Name of Last Resort – Submarine Building Yards
   6. Location of Last Resort – Flensburg or any industrial area
2. S-2 Enemy Pursuit Expected
   1. Number and Type –
   2. Pictures and Short description of any new types –
3. Flak Officer – Flak Expected
   1. On Route In
   2. At Target
   3. On Route Back
4. General information of formation
   1. Wing formation – 102 Combat Wing leads 101 CW
   2. Order of Groups in formation and altitude of each – 305 - 25,000 303 - 24,000 351 - 26,000
   3. Our formation for bombing – Group Defensive
   4. Pursuit coverage 9 Squadron of P-47's will make diversionary sweep to Amsterdam when bombers come into the fighter area and 379th Group diversion toward Amsterdam.
   5. Bomb Loading 10 x 500 lb. bombs with 1/10 delay nose fuse and 1/100 delay tail fuse per airplane.
   6. IAS [Indicated Air Speed] for bombing will be 160 MPH.
5. Navigator
   1. This Group Assembles with the 305th & 303rd Group at Molesworth at 0830 at an altitude of 4,000.
   2. Route out and times at check points.
   3. Climb will start at _____and altitude will be reached at ______.
   4. Axis of attack is 105°.
   5. Distance from IP [Initial Point of Bomb Run] to Target is 12 and time at IP is 1136 and time at Target is 1140.
   6. Direction of turn and course after attack is to the Left to a course of 61°. The rally point is ______.
   7. Route back and times at check points.
   8. Point where descent will start is after out of fighters. Descent will be to ______feet.
   9. Total time for mission is 6 hours 10 minutes.
   10. Length of time over 10,000 feet is 2 hours 40 minutes.
   11. Deadline for last take off is 0835 and the point to intercept the group is coast at 4,000 feet.
   12. Time Tick.
6. Station – 0640
   Start engines – 0740
   Taxi – 0750
   Take off – 0805
   
7. Don't leave gun stations until _______. Watch Your Own Sector.
8. Point to airplane assignments and explain.
9. Weather Officer
   1. General Weather and visibility along entire Route is _______
   2. Weather and Visibility at IP and Target is _______
   3. Winds at cruising altitude are _______
   4. Temperature at cruising altitude is _______
   5. Pressure altitude at target is _______
10. A _______ flare will be fired at the IP.
11. S-2 [Intelligence] – Show Pictures and maps of the target. Have direction of attack laid out on maps and pictures. Any other comments that are desired. (Comments must be cleared with C.O. [Commanding Officer] first).
12. Any special instructions to all personnel.
    
    Gunners, Radio operators, Navigators and Bombardiers leave the briefing room.
13. Comments to improve the formation and improve evasive action.
14. Climb at 150 IAS. [Indicated Air Speed]
    Cruise at 155 IAS at Low Altitude
    Reform after attack at 155 IAS
    Descend at 170 IAS and 1000 feet per minute.
15. Any questions on who takes over the lead at anytime? Between IP and target?
16. Special instructions in case of bad weather.
17. Call signs bomber to bomber:
    305 Group Down Beat 1
    303 Group Down Beat 2
    351 Group Down Beat 3
    ____Group ______
    Collective call sign_______
    Recall ____________
18. Identification colors: 305 Group RG
    303 Group RY
    351 Group GY
    ____Group ______
19. Bomber to bomber freq. 5010 kc [kilocycles].
20. Bomber to fighter channel _____________
21. Bomber to fighter call signs:
    1. Bombers __________
    2. Fighters ___________
    3. Ground ___________
22. Turn on VHF [Very High Frequency Radio] at ___________
23. Colors of the day:

    Time	Color	Ident.	Challenge
    0800 - 1400	RY	V	F
    1400 - 2000	GG	O	G

24. Taxi plan for take off and landing, and spare airplanes.
25. Any questions.

1. The Field Order was received at 0130 and briefing was held at 0430. Take-off was set for 0805 to meet the zero hour of 1130. However, the zero hour was later moved back to 1330 and the actual take-off was at 1005. Twenty-one planes took off, but five (5) aborted before reaching the coast of Europe. Colonel HATCHER and Captain CALHOUN were in the lead ship, 872.
2. The 351st Group was high group in the 102nd provisional Combat Wing, consisting of the 351st, 303rd, and the 305th Bombardment Groups. Contact was made with the 305th group and the 303rd group slightly West of Molesworth. From there they continued at 8,000’ across the North Sea. About 150 miles from the coast of Europe, the Wing started climbing to an altitude of 26,000’, crossing the coast at that height. The five (5) abortions occurred during the climb. Fighter opposition was first encountered just before reaching the Danish Peninsula, and continued to the target and back across the Danish Peninsula and until about fifty (50) miles out to sea. Light flak was encountered in the target area. Ship No. 701 is believed to have been knocked down by the flak over the target. The Wing reached the Primary target at 13:30 and was forced to take the target of last resort because another Wing was on the target at that time. Bombing results were fair. On the return trip, ship No.850 was forced to land before returning to base in order to refuel. Aircraft No. 852 was forced to land at Sculthorpe, England owing to crew injuries and shortage of fuel.
[Signed:] Edward C. Boykin, Jr., Captain, Air Corps, Asst. Operations

1. The formation was engaged by heavy and accurate Flak and by Enemy Aircraft from the Coast to the Target and back to the Coast. FW-190’s, Me-110’s and Ju-88’s were the attacking planes.
2. Turning on course from the I.P. to the target we were forced too far to the right by the other Groups to perform a sighting operation on the principal target.
3. Target of last resort was picked and fired at. Sighting was well synchronized. AB Computer was used with excellent results. Five degrees drift were indicated and pre-set. C-1 Autopilot not used at all.
4. Bombs observed were generally good but a few were dropped late and hit slightly over. Aiming Point used was short of the target to allow for good pattern impact.
   1. Wind from 300° at 20 M.P.H.
   2. Altitude 26,000 feet
   3. Bombs Away at 1330
   4. Heading 110°
   5. No. of Bombs 159 x 500 lb. G.P. (General Purpose)

1. There was only one roll of film exposed due to malfunction of equipment in the other two cameras.
2. The primary target at Kiel is not shown in any of the photographs. The small town of Moorsee caught the majority of the bombing shown in the photograph. The town was heavily bombed. It is impossible to estimate damage because the entire town was covered with bomb bursts.
3. The town of Moorsee is one mile away from the suburb of Kiel and four miles from the primary target.
4. There is a direct hit on a main rail line out of Kiel.

1. Maximum effort was ordered for this Group for May 19, 1943, the primary target being the Kiel turbine engine shop; the secondary, Kiel submarine slips; and the last resort, Flansburg shipyard and power plant. Twenty-one planes took off between 1006 and 1017 hours. Five planes returned early as abortive due to mechanical difficulties. They were:
   1. A/C 150 – Top turret link chutes clogged and interphones out. Pilot was Lt. D.M. Norris.
   2. A/C 868 - #2 engine lost oil and #3 and #4 engines had high oil temperatures and cylinder head temperatures. Pilot was Lt J.P. Kern.
   3. A/C 120 – Ball turret gun elevation clutch broken and buffer lock spring in tail guns inoperative. Pilot was L.W. Reed.
   4. A/C 877 - #4 supercharger out at altitude. Pilot was Lt. J.M. Moss.
   5. A/C 136 – Oxygen system inoperative and ball turret Vickers unit defective. Pilot was Lt. C.W. Wilson.
   One A/C, #701, is missing with no accurate reports as to its whereabouts. Pilot was Lt. Mansfield. A/C #852 landed at Sculthrope, England, on the way home due to mechanical difficulties and the exhausted condition of the crew from lack of oxygen. One man was killed because of a lack of oxygen and two men suffered frost bite.
2. Enemy flak was moderate and generally inaccurate. Enemy fighter opposition was heavy, with the enemy throwing in every type of fighter plane available. Bombing results are thought to be good to fair, but poor timing of formation over the target made bombing of the primary target difficult. Tentative claims on enemy A/C encountered are seven destroyed, six probably destroyed, and five damaged. Visibility was very good.

Click on Chart to Enlarge

1. Route to target - In – Southern coast of Nordstrand Island – 5 miles south of town Husum to I.P. 5 miles out of Kiel – (Target) – Secondary in same area – NE to Landfall; SW [sic –should be NW] to Kappeln – east [sic –should be West] over Amrum Island.
2. Visibility at Target – Good visibility except white smoke screen – No condensation trails.
3. No of A/C over Target: 30
4. Info of any A/C damaged – Ship shot down – AA [Anti-Aircraft] hit No. 3 engine – last seen losing altitude fast over target.
5. General Axis of attack - 110°
6. How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? – 4 minutes
7. Turn after bombing - 180° to left
8. Position of Group in relation to other Groups: Third Group higher
9. What evasive action was taken? Ordinary
10. A short description of Flak en route and at the Target: Continuous following throughout – Light flak over Nordstrand Island and at town of Husum. Heavy flak 3 minutes before Bombs away – Bursting 1,000’ below Group – Flak continued approximately 5 minutes past target and along Kiel coast. Occasional light bursts on return and in area of Amrum Island. Flak generally poor for height and deflection aimed at lower group. Few scattered red bursts in target area.
11. Flak seemed to be concentrated on lower group preceding ours. Reports indicate aircraft shot down in moderate intensity of fire.

The following is a summary of crew comments for the Mission of 19 May 1943:
A/C # 850 – Pilot, Carraway – waste too much gas milling about. Want better breakfast.
A/C # 860 – Pilot, Ledoux – waist gunner wants guns staggered. Tail gunner should have chest or back chute.
A/C # 839 – Pilot, Hanson – Ice bad in nose.
A/C # 843 – Pilot, R.E. Smith – Poor breakfast.
A/C # 887 – Pilot, O’Mohundro – Poor breakfast.
A/C # 140 – Pilot, Spika – Poor food.
A/C # 863 – Pilot, Morse – Chest chutes are needed.
A/C # 861 – Pilot, Strouse – “Tail end Charley” should always carry a camera. Tail armor plate prevents men from (unreadable) on while climbing under it. Spinners on bomb fuses not secured in tightly enough and heavy wire held them instead of cotter pins.
[Signed:] John L Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2

In its longest raid to date Flying Fortresses from a group stationed in Central England today swept over Germany to blast the strategically important shipbuilding and repair facilities of Kiel Harbor.

Perfect flying weather, with good visibility was reported throughout the raid but smoke pots and the smoke from bombs dropped by preceding attackers partially obscured the target, but the entire area was well splattered [by] scores of 500-pounders. The smoke rising from the target was described as thick and heavy.

Sergeant Carl L. Dickerson, a tail gunner from Clearwater, Cal., saw bombs landing “on the shore, right off the hook of Kiel Harbor.” There were a lot of smoke pots surrounding the harbor,” he said, “but these bombs made a different kind of smoke so I knew we had started a lot of fires.”

Today’s formation was led by Lt. Col. William A. Hatcher, commanding officer, from Grand Rapids, Mich. He piloted the “Snow Ball.” Although he did not see the results of the bombing, Col. Hatcher was well pleased with the outcome of the mission. In comparing today’s raid with the last attack he led, on the aerodrome near Courtrai, Belgium, Col. Hatcher stated that he, personally, did not see as much fighter opposition today. “We didn’t get the nose attacks that we did at Courtrai,” he said. “They were attacking the nose of the group ahead of us and were giving it a good working over. They kept on our tail plenty, however, and my tail gunner fires 2,000 rounds of ammunition and turned away eight of them.”

His tail gunner was 1st Lt. William E. Peters, of Highland Park, Ill., ordinarily pilot of the “Snow Ball” who today took his position in the tail in order to advise Col. Hatcher on the formation of the group.

Most of the gunners reported seeing about 30 to 50 planes. They were mostly Focke-Wulfs but several Me110’s and Ju-88’s were helping to provide the opposition. Claims of German fighters shot down are now being investigated. They include 10 destroyed, three probables and four damaged. S/Sgt. Orrin D. Diltz, a ball turret gunner from Circleville, Ohio, is one of the men whose claims are being considered.
“We were leading the second element in the high squadron as we left the target,” Sergeant Diltz said. A Focke-Wulf came at us at about seven o’clock from about 9,000 yards away. I gave one burst of about 15 shots and he turned over on his back and went down. He was coming straight at us at the time but I got him first.”

T/Sgt. Joseph M Bologna of New York City, waist gunner on “Murder, Inc.” also thinks he got one. “I know I damaged it anyhow,” he said. “It was a Ju-88 and it was heading right for us and came as close as 800 yards. I fired a burst and it fell smoking – a white smoke. I watched it until it was at about 15,000 feet and then I lost sight of it.”

The nosedive of a German fighter into the water of the harbor was described by S/Sgt. James H. Vanderlaan of Grand Rapids, Mich., who is ball turret on the “Ain’t it Gruesome.” “I happened to be looking down and I saw something hit the water and a pyramid of smoke rising,” he said. “I don’t know what type of plane it was but I do know it wasn’t a Fortress.”

Opinion of the fliers seemed divided on whether or not today’s mission was the toughest they have under taken. “It was worse than Emden, a helluva lot worse,” according to 1st Lt. R.E. Smith, of Wenatchee, Wash., pilot of the “Coup de Grace.”

On the other hand, 1st Lt. Theodore Argiropulos of Redding, Cal., who co-piloted “Murder, Inc.,” said, “I got shot all to hell at Courtrai but we had so many planes up today that it wasn’t so bad.”

1. A/C no. 136 while returning Home after leaving the formation as an abortion observed a submarine crash diving at 53 degrees 31 min. N. – 1 degree 41 min. E. A while later the same plane observed two torpedo boats heading 90 degrees at 53 degrees 1 min. N. – 1 degree 20 min. E. Observation was made at 1425 from 5,000 feet.
2. A/C no. 860 at 22,000 feet observed an unknown friendly A/C going down in distress at sea, 25 miles from the European coast near the Island of Nordmorsh Hoobe. The craft fell from the High squadron with one engine on fire. Observation was made at 1415 on a heading of 270 degrees.
3. A/C no. 852 landed at Soulthorpe, England and information was phoned from Soulthorpe.
4. A/C no. 140 landed with an injured tail gunner, S/Sgt.Joseph L. Donahey, 15084356, had frost bite of both hands. He had passed out from lack of oxygen. [Signed:] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2

[Teletype Message] FROM 342 SQDN. SCULTHORPE A2 19 MAY. FOR ATTENTION ACCIDENTS AND P4 (CAS)
(A) FORTRESS (4)2-29852 (B) POLEBROOK (C) LANDED SCULTHORPE 1556 - TOOK OFF 1954 - 19TH. MAY DAY
(D)(1) Lt W.R. SMITH PILOT, R/O D.R. JOYCE CO-PILOT, LT. C.F. NEWTON NAV, LT. W.G. WINTER, BOMBARDIER, M/SGT J.D. GAY. RADIO OPERATOR, S/SGT l.T. BAKER ENGINEER, S/SGT A. FULLIN TOP TURRET GUNNER, S/SGT K.W. GORSUCH. BALL TURRET GUNNER, S/SGT R.A. MILLS TAIL GUNNER, S/SGT TURBEVILLE GUNNER, ALL AMERICAN
(D)(2) T/SGT BAKER KILLED OVER TARGET WHEN ATTEMPTING BAIL OUT. OXYGEN APPARATUS PUNCTURED. AIRCRAFT HOLED BY FLAK. SGTS GAY AND GORSUCH FROST-BITTEN
(E) Body SGT BAKER TRANSFERRED MORTUARY WEST RAYNHAM REMAINDER CREW RETURNED TO BASE.
(F) AUT KNOWN
(G) EMERGENCY LANDING
(H) FUSELAGE PUNCTURED CATEGORY
Signed: KINNOT = 19/2020B

1. Ship #868 - Time ____ - Location - ____ - #3 & #4 oil pressure down to 60 lbs. - Cylinder head temp. up to 205° - flaps open [Engine cowl flaps]. Oil temp. up to 100° lost oil out of #2 engine. Power settings - 2350 RPM, 42"Hg [Intake Manifold Pressure] only indicated 135 MPH in 500 ft. per minute climb.
   [Signed:] Jack P. Kern, 1st Lt.
2. Ship #877 – Time ____ - Location - ____ - Returned from mission because #4 supercharger was out at altitude. I aborted at 17,000 ft. rather than go on, on the three remaining engines.
   [Signed:] John M. Moss, 1st Lt.
3. Ship #136 – Time 1300 – Location - ____ - At 1300 hrs. on May 18, 1943 at an altitude of 22,000 ft., Lt. Wilson attracted my attention to a ship falling out of formation. At this time Lt Wilson slumped forward on the wheel. I immediately reduced my altitude until he rallied. Then we proceeded on course for our home base.
   [Signed:] 2nd Lt. James B. Penrod, Co-pilot
4. Ship #150 – Time ____ – Location - [Not Written] - Fuel supply low, top turret gun chutes clogged, top turret interphone inoperative.
   [Signed:] D.M. Norris, 2nd Lt.
5. Ship #120 – Time ____ – Location - ____ - My position was about 45 minutes from the target and was starting the climb to altitude (from 8,000 ft.). My ball turret went out as we left the English coast. Approximately 10 minutes later the tail gunner found one of his tail guns would not fire. The oil buffer lock spring in the other gun was worn and loose and I don't believe it would have fired many rounds before it malfunctioned.
   [Signed:] Theodore W. Reed Jr. 1st Lt.

1. Total No. A/C in each Squadron and Letters of each:

   Sqdn 508th A/C: 858 – G, 882 – L, 868 – K, 141 – A	(4)
   Sqdn 509th A/C:  863 – Y, 120 - O,  860 – W, 684 – T, 140 - P, 838 – U, 861 - X	(7)
   Sqdn 510th A/C: 887 - K, 850 - G, 701 – B, 843 – D, 839 – C	(5)
   Sqdn 511th A/C: 872 – W, 877 – X, 852 – V, 136 – P, 150 – Q	(5)

2. Target: GR3588 AP3065 53(A) 3/4   Secondary GR3594 AP6420 53(A) 4 0/S
   
3. Station call sign and Operational call sign respectively of each Squadron

   Squadron	508 Ops:	C7H		Squadron	510 Ops:	MF8
   	Sta:	Wild Cheer			Sta:	Worm Track
   Squadron	509 Ops	C7H		Squadron	511 Ops:	MF8
   	Sta:	Knitwell			Sta:	Shudder

4. Taxi Time – 1st A/C 0950;     Take-Off Time 1st A/C 1005;     E.T.D. Over Field 1030

5. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast OUT:
   1115	4,000 Ft	E of Splasher #4 (0°10'W - 53°27' N)

6. Time:	Height:	Place of Recrossing Enemy Coast:
   1433	26,000 Ft	Amrum Island

7. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast IN:
   1615	5,000 Ft	Cromer

8. E.T.R.: 1615 Hours
9. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: H
10. Bomb load of Each A/C:
    Squadron: 508 10–500 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 509 10–500 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 510 10–500 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
    Squadron: 511 10–500 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/40 Tail
11. Fuel Load of each A/C: 1700 Gals
12. Actual Times Off and Return by Squadrons and A/C Letters:

    Squadron	A/C Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.	Squadron	A/C Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.
    508	858–G	1008½	1624	509	863–Y	1006	1621
    	882–L	1009½	1625		120–O	1010	1355
    	868–K	1010½	1452		860–W	1013½	1628
    	141–A	1011	1623		684–T	1014	1629
    					140–P	1016½	1623
    					838–U	1014½	1623
    					861–X	1017	1634
    510	887–K	1011½	1622	511	872–W	1006	1640
    	850–G	1012½	1801		877 –X	1007	1449
    	701–B	1013			852–V	1007½
    	843–D	1015	1632		136–P	1008	1433
    	839–C	1016	1633		150–Q	1009	1448

    Report Compiled By C.A. Blanchard Sgt.
    Abortives – 120 – Landed 1345 B.T Elevation Clutch broken & TG's Trigger broken
    136 – Landed 1433 Oxygen line to Pilot malfunctioning – Pilot fainted at 23,000'
    877 – Landed 1449 #4 Supercharger was out altitude 17,000 ft.
    150 – Landed 1448 Top Turret Guns out & Interphone out–Fuel supply low
    868 – Landed 1452 #3 & #4 Oil Pressure down to 60 pounds–Clyinder head temperature 205° –Lost oil in #2 engine–oil coolers #2 & #4 defective
    852 – Landed at Sculthorpe–satalite West Raymham–one crew member killed–T/Sgt L. Baker
    850 – Carraway Returned Late
    701 – Mansfield Missing

A/C# 42-29701   TU-B  “In The Mood”  Lt. Mansfield   A/C's 1st Mission  
MACR # 15719

Aircraft Loss Circumstances:

According to the Missing Air Crew Report the plane was last sighted at the Kiel Fiord and was brought down by flak.

None listed in the MACR

According to the book "351st Bomb Group in WWII," page 7, "Lt. Mansfield's ship, 42-29701, was damaged by flak over the target but went on with its number 3 engine smoking and dropped its bombs. It was last seen going down seemingly under control."
Three members of the crew apparently bailed out and were captured by the Germans according to the National Archives list of POWs.

• MANSFIELD ROBERT W  S/N O-665703  Pilot from Texas  POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• NASH, DAVID F  S/N O-795289  Navigator from Oklahoma  POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• WHITE, SYDNEY A  S/N O-733007  Bombardier from Wisconsin  POW at Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12

The following records are courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission. http://www.abmc.gov and findagrave.com

• Donald L. Jasinek, Second Lieutenant, (Co-Pilot) U.S. Army Air Forces Service # O-735382, 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy Entered the Service from: Illinois Died: 19-May-43 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands.    Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
• Willard A. Backman, Technical Sergeant, (Right Waist Gunner) U.S. Army Air Forces Service # 39022182, 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy Entered the Service from: California Died: 19-May-43 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery Cambridge, England.    Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
• Charlie E. Anchors, Staff Sergeant, (Top Turret Gunner) U.S. Army Air Forces Service # 34187874, 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy Entered the Service from: Tennessee Died: 19-May-43 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery Cambridge, England.    Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
• Clifford H. Coyle, Staff Sergeant, (Left Waist Gunner) U.S. Army Air Forces Service # 17011798, 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy Entered the Service from: Nebraska Died: 19-May-43 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery Cambridge, England.    Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
• Louis S. Strumolo, Staff Sergeant, (Ball Turret Gunner) U.S. Army Air Forces Service # 32443291, 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy Entered the Service from: New York Died: 19-May-43 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery Cambridge, England.    Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
• Thomas V. Higgins, Sergeant, (Tail Gunner) U.S. Army Air Forces Service # 16050802, 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy Entered the Service from: Wisconsin Died: 19-May-43 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery Cambridge, England.    Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
• Elmer L. Peterson, Tech Sergeant, (Radio Operator) U.S. Army Air Forces Service # 16076636, 510th Bomb Squadron, is buried in Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery, Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois, Plot: Lot 2, Sec 51 N.E. Corner.

Other Casualties:
T/Sgt. Lewis T. Baker     Left Waist Gunner    A/C# 42-29852   DS-V
Buried: Smithfield Cemetery, Smithfield, Henry County, Kentucky

Mission No. 4 – May 19, 1943
For the raid on Kiel, 21 planes took off led by Colonel Hatcher with Captain Calhoun as copilot, Captain Menees as navigator and Lt. Stevens as bombardier. On this mission the Group ran into the biggest concentration of enemy fighters they had encountered up to that time. Lt. Mansfield’s ship, 42-29701, was damaged by flak over the target but went on with its number three engine smoking and dropped its bombs. It was last seen going down seemingly under control. Just as Lt. W. R. Smith in 42-29852 started the bomb run, a 20mm shell exploded just above the ball turret, severing the oxygen lines. This left the four gunners without oxygen at 25,000 feet. The left waist gunner, T/Sgt. Baker, attempted to bail out but his parachute became snagged on the escape hatch. The plight of the gunners, all suffering from anoxia, went unnoticed until after the bomb run when the rest of the crew heard T/Sgt. Baker’s body banging against the fuselage. All but the pilot came back to assist. The ball gunner was unconscious from lack of oxygen when he was removed from his turret. The right waist gunner and tail gunner were almost unconscious. Together they managed to pull T/Sgt. Baker back into the plane, but he was dead from banging against the plane and frozen from the intense cold. Lt. Smith landed at the earliest opportunity, an emergency strip on the coast of England.