42-102706

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COPY
OPERATIONS
817TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H)
483RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
Office of the Operations Officer.
16 February, 1945.
APO
520.
STATEMENT
We were coming in on the 5omb run at Hall, Austria. We had bomb
bay doors open, and at bombs away I was watching for flak and planes,
when I happened to look towards six 'clock and saw Ship No. 706 flying
No. six (6) position hit by a bomb and explode in mid-air. I couldn't
see where the tail went, for at that time a Squadron of B-24's came thru our
formation, simultaneously as they passed above us.
The ship nosed over and went into a dive earthwards. I saw that it
still had bomb bay doors open and the ship was following its first
two or three bombs. It went into a spin when I last saw it. At that time
I was calling the pilot to tell him what had happened to No. 6 ship. I did
not see any chutes come out of the plane. The only markings that I saw on
the B-24's was the top-part of the rudder was yellow.
/s/ Tom J. Hanges,
/t/ Tom J. Hanges, 18004754
s/sgt., 817th Bomb Sq (H),
Tail Gunner.
TATEMENT
We were going over the target when a formation of B-24's drifted in
just over our second element. When our bombardier called bombs away the
24's released their bombs at the same time and one of the bombs struck
Ship No. 6 (706). The bomb struck the tail and blew it off from the rest
of the ship. The ship went. straight down. No chutes came out of the ship.
/s/ Gorden L. Harrison
/t/ Gorden L. Harrison, 38555767,
s/Sgt. 817th Bomb Squadron,
Tail Gunner.
duti
1:
2199

OPERATIONS
817TH SQUADRON (H)
483RD BOM BARD ENT GROUP (H)
Office of the Operations officer.
16 February, 1045.
APO
520:
STATEHELI
We were coming in on the bomb run at Hall, Austria. We had bomb
bay doors open, and at bombs away I was watching for flak and planes,
when I happened to look towards six o'clock and saw Ship No. 706 flyins
No. six (6) position hit by a bomb and explode in mid-air. I couldn't
see where the tail int, for at that time a Squadron of B-241s came thru our
formation, simultaneously as they passed above us.
The ship nosed over and went into a dive eartinrards. I saw that
it still had bomb bay doors open and the ship was following its first
two or three bombs. It went into a spin when I last saw it. At that time I was
calling the pilot to tell nim what had happened to No. 6 ship. I did not
see any chutes cone out of the plane. Tho only markings that I saw on the
B-24's was the top-part of the rudder was yellow.
Tampostanga
Tom J. Hanges, 18004754
s/Sgt. 817th Bomb Sq (H),
Tail Gunner.