Loss record
MACR 9900: 42-97568
815th15 November 1944
- Aircraft
- 42-97568 (B-17G)
- Mission
- mission 123, 15 November 1944
- Target
- Linz, Austria benzol plant [six aircraft]
- Last known
- no information
- Record
- Missing Air Crew Report
- Sources
- National Archives Catalog, NAID 91081469 (31 pages) · Association aircraft page
Crew, as read from the report
| Position | Name | Rank | Serial | Status |
|---|
| Pilot | Eder, Bernard B. | 2nd Lt. | O-770987 | MIA |
| Terrace, Brookline | | O-777303 | |
| McCormick, Richard A. | Sgt. | 31278907 | RTD |
| Cadwell, Forest G. Sgt. | | 37708138 | MIA |
| Bojke, Clement J. S | Sgt. | 36556776 | |
| Davis, Earl La | | 38107951 | |
| Anderson, Edgar L | Sgt. | 35778412 | |
| Corps, Operations Officer. | 2nd Lt. | O-767430 | |
| VRIORDAN, Jn. John Edeard | | O-770787 | |
| VBAMIXL, Jesse Ellsworth | | O-732464 | |
| SUBHANE, Eder | Capt | O-757430 | |
| DAVIS, Zarl Le | | 38107953 | |
| DAVIS, Ems | | 38107952 | |
Names and serials are the machine's reading of the typed form; a linked name is the man's record.
Statements, questionnaires and capture reports
Casualty questionnaire, page 20: Rank · 15 November 1944
AFPFA-12
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
9900
0777303
William J. Brick, Jr.
2nd. Lt.
ee
1. Your name
Rank
Serial No.
AF
Inknown
-
Stanfield Major
2. Organization
Gp Commander
Rank
Sqn CO
Rank
1944
15
(full name)
3. What year
month
day
did you go down?
Radar
Linz, Austria
4. What was the mission,
, target,
,
time,
11;00
, altitude,
unknown
route scheduled,
, route flown
unknown
single ship raids
5. Where were you when you left formation?
Yes
6. Did you bail out?
Yes , all of them
7. Did other members of crew bail out?
8.
Tell all you know about when, where, how each person in your aircraft for whom no
individual questionnaire is attached bailed out. A crew list is ettached. Please
give facts. If you don't know, say: "No Knowledge".
All bailed out in good condition
unknown
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground?
10. What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires)
None
11. Where were they in aircraft?
12. What was their condition?
13. When, where, and in what condition did you lest see any members not already des-
cribed above?
14. Please give any similar information on personnel of any other crew of which you
have knowledge. Indicate source of information.
a - !
(Any additional information may be written on the back)
6-3862, AF
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 20 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Casualty questionnaire, page 21: DAVIS, Earl lee · 15 November 1944
AFPP#-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
File 9900
Name of crew member :
DAVIS, Earl lee
Rank:
s/sgt
Serial number:
38107951
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Asst Radio Operator
Yes
Did he bail out?
Austria (exact position unknown, near Judenburg, within
Where?
fifty milos of Noumarke Because of my condition I em
If not, why not?
-T
not certain.
I believe
Yast contactear conversation just ,prior to or a,t time of loss of plane:
acknowredged pirots order to abandon ship and all loft
in uninjured physical condition.
f
he injured?
I am almost certain he was not.
Where was he when last seen?
Unknown
Any hearsay information
Crew members were under the impression that he
had Sustarned back injur los and his face showed signs of
disfigurement ( either from a bad parachute landing or from
a benting from unknown persons)
I boliovo I hoard this from out radio gunner,
Source :
ex-T/Stg. C. J. Bojke, 6381 Walton, Detroit Mich.
Any fate based in part or wholly on, suppisition:
We all
had returned home sare with the rest of us
it was quite a shock to learn otherwise. Was he reported
a.s an official prisoner through the International Red
Cross? It seems definite that he arrived alive into
Enemy hands. In the normal course of a prisonors lifo
he should be home a nd alive.
Total number of missions of above crew member:
Unknown (possible 3)
Dates and destinations if possible:
Unknomm
6-3861, AF
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 21 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Casualty questionnaire, page 22: DAVIS, Earl L · 15 November 1944
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
File 9900
Name of crew member:
DAVIS, Earl L.
Rank:
s/Sgt
Serial number:
38107951
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Asst Radio Operator
Did he bail out? yes
Where? Over- Friesach 14 Austrian Alps
If not, why not? -
Last or or
contact conversation just prior to at time of loss of plane: Bailed
out with me I an ded neer me 04 ground.
Was he injured? yes, H old back 14 Jury was bothoring
Where was he when last seen? Stayed 14 hospital with
him
me For zuks. saw him lost in Dula, huft Frankfortunt
Any hearsay information:
Under stood that he had been sent to 2
camp in the Month
Source Grapevine 14 Germany.
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: From the
m2.1s character I woud 504 that he might OF
hot thouble with 2 quard. He was very quick
temperd 2nd hard to get a 1049 with. He was
older than the test OF us 04 the chow,
Total number of missions of above crew member:
2
Dates and destinations if possible: our first mission was to
Vichiz Nov 1944. wentdown over Austria
mear Klografurt nou 17, 1944. torget was Linz
6-3861, AF
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 22 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Casualty questionnaire, page 24: Mc Cormick Richard · 15 November 1944
-
AFPPA-12
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Your name Mc Cormick Richard
Rank Tist Serial No. 31278907
81558.
can't
M21-2
2. Organization 4839P. Gp Commander recall Rank
(full name)
Sqn CO Stan Juy Rank
(full name)
3. What year 1944
month hou
day 15
did you go down?
single ship
4. What was the mission, Rodar
, target, Li42
, target
time, 11:40
altitude, 24,000
route scheduled, mohe
,route flown
Shortest possible
5. Where were you when you left formation? mo formation
6. Did you bail out? yes
7. Did other members of crew bail out? All members bail out.
8. Tell all you know about when, where, bow each person in your aircraft for whom no
individual questionnaire is attached bailed out. A crew list is attached. Please
give facts. If you don't know, say: "No Knowledge". all of the crew
bailed out lether I have sinre Seen all the
crew except Devis 245 Andersoh.
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground? Don't know
10. What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck tha ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires) no
11. Where were they in aircraft? In the wast section.
12. What was their condition? 14 good condition
13. When, where, and in what condition did you last see any members not already des-
cribed above?
14. Please give any similar information on personnel of any other crew of which you
have knowledge. Indicate source of information.
-
(Any 9-1
additional information may be written on the back)
6-3862, AF
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 24 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Casualty questionnaire, page 25: DAVIS, Zarl Le · 15 November 1944
AFPPA-91
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
File 9900
Name of crew member:
DAVIS, Zarl Le
Rank:
s/sgt
Serial number:
38107953
Position: Crew (Bomber)
CAsst Radio Operator ,
ARMOR - G UNNER)
Did he bail out ? YES
Where?
NEAR A TOWN CALLED NEUMARKT, AUSTRIA
If not, why not?
-
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane
HC WAS FIURTH To BAIL OUT - I WAS FiFTH
Was he injured? Yes
Where was he when last seen? I SAW HiM LAST in CAMP LHCK:, FRANCE
Any hearsay information:
NONE
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: NET DAVIS
in CAMP hucky, AFTER LIBERATION. WAS AWAITING
DEPROYMENT To STAT ES
Total number of missions of above crew member:
2
Dates and destinations if possible: Moos BURG - IST MISSION
hinz - - 2ND ON Nou, 15 1944
(MORE INFORMATION ON OTHER SIDE)
6-3861, AF
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 25 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Casualty questionnaire, page 27: CLEMENT J. BOJKE · 15 November 1944
AFPPA-12
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Your name CLEMENT J. BOJKE
Rank T/SGT. Serial No. 36556776
2. Commander - - Rank - Sqn CO STANFieLD Rank MAJOR
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year 1944
mo.ith Nov.
day 15
did you go down?
4. What was the mission,
2
,
target, LIN2, AHSTRIA
, target
time, 11:00 A.M. altitude, 27,000 FL
route scheduled,
, ,route flown
5. Where were you when you left formation' ? FLEW A RADAR RAID
6. Did you bail out?
YES
7. Did other members of crew bail out? ALL TEH MEMBERS
8. Tell all you know-about when, where, how each person in your aircraft for whom no
individual questionnaire is attached bailed out. A crew list is attached. Please
give facts. If you don't know, say: "No Knowledge". To THE BEST OF
MY KNOW . hED GE - No MEMBER HAD ANY DIFFICULTY
LEAVING SHIP
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground? in of NEAR THE ALPS
10.
What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires) NONE
11.
Where were they in aircraft? No ONE in AIRCRAFT
12. What was their condition?
-
13. When, where, and in what condition did you last see any members not already des-
cribed above?
14.
Please give any similar information on personnel of any other crew of which you
have knowledge. Indicate source of information.
-
(Any additional information may be written on the back)
6-3862,AF
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 27 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Casualty questionnaire, page 28 · 15 November 1944
AFPPA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
File 9900
Name of crew member:
DAVIS, Ems1 lon
Rank:
s/3g
Serial number:
38107952
Position: Crew (Bomber) Asst fundio Operator
Did he bail out' Yes
Where? Somewhere south of Graz, in NeuMarkt (I believe this is the area)
1f not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane
He acknowledged the order to abandon ship and presumably parachuted
Was he injured?
I do not have any divect information
Where was he when last seen?
I do not have any direct information
Any hearsay information: Other of my crew members whom I saw several days
after tre had been taken prisoner told me that Davis had been hurt in
parachuting and had been taken to the hospital. The injury was believed
spinal. Latter letters from my crew members after we had reached the
United States caid that Davis had recovered to what degree I do not
know.
Source : Interrogation and letters from other enlisted members of the
crew.
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
His fate after he left the other crew members, presumably for the
hospital, is supposition, as no further contact was made with him
until after liberation.
Total number of missions of above crew member: I believe two or three.
Dates and destinations if possible: Between November 7th and 15th.
6-3861, AF
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 28 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Casualty questionnaire, page 29 · 15 November 1944
AFPRA-12
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
1.
Your
name Bernard Benjamin Eder
Rank 2nd Lt. Serial No. o-767430
815th Sq. 483rd B.Gp. Col. Reardon
Colonel
Maj. . Stanfield Ma jor
2. Organization
Gp Commander
Rank
Sqn CO
Rank
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year
1944
month November . day 15 did you go down?
4.
What was the mission, See Reverse Siderget,
, target
time,
, altitude,
route scheduled,
,route flown
5. Where were you when you left formation?
See Reverse Side
6. Did you bail out?
Yes
7. Did other members of crew bail out? Yes
8.
Tell all you know about when, where, how each person in your aircraft for whom no
individual questionnaire is attached bailed out. A crew list is attached. Please
give facts. If you don't know, say: "No Knowledge". See Reverse Sfdect
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground?
No Knowlodge
10. What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires)
None
11. Where -ere they in aircraft?
12. What was their condition?
13.
When, where, and in what condition did you last see any members not already des-
cribed
above? Davis, Earl L., s/sgt. was lest seen by me just before
he bailed out. He was alive and unhurt
14. Please give any similar information on personnel of any other crew of which you
have knowledge. Indicate source of information. No direct knowledge
(Any additional information may be written on the back)
6-3862, AF
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 29 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Eyewitness statement, page 30 · 15 November 1944
Questions 4 &
We were flying a radar equipped B17G on a single-ship, daylight
missson. Our primary target was Linz, Austria, and secondary
target was Graz, Austria. We wers the first of "several " similarly
equipped ships to go over the target and drpp preset time-bombs.
Our bomb-run altitude was briefed at 28,500 feet but due to mechan-
ical difficulties we were unable to fly at that altitude.
We were not in any formation.
Question 8:
John Riordan, Co-pilot: Tried to bail out thru the bomb-bay, but
f'ound that the doors were not open. (At the time they were frozen
shut) . Proceeded to rear door and jumped.
William Brick, Bombardier: Dropped the bombsight thru the fromt
escape hatch, breaking the door from its hinges, and jumped when
ordered to abandon ship.
Anthony Noll, Jr., Navigator: Followed the bombardier thru the
front escape hatch.
Jesse Hamiel, Radar Navigator: Jumped from rear door when ordered
to abandon ship.
Richard McCormick, Engineer: Followed radar-navigator thru the
rear door.
Jack Bojke, Radio Operator: Followed engineer thru the rear door.
Earl Anderson, Tail-gunner: Followed radio-operator thru the rear
door.
Forrest Cadwell, Waist-gunner: Followed tail-gunner thru the rear
door.
Bernard Eder, Pilot: After I ascertained that all had abandoned ship
I put ship into power-off glide and dived into bomb-bay. I did not
know that the doors were still frozen closed as I had pulled the
emergency release. Evidently my weight on the doors forced them opan
enough for me to get out. I suffered a cerebral cuncussion and
remember nothing more until I awoke on the groung.
National Archives, MACR 9900, page 30 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Loss sheets and photographs
- B-17 42-97568 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 42-97568, mission 123 Linz, Austria · 15 November 1944 · view at 15thaf.org
- and 3 more on the source pages
These pictures stay on the sites that hold them and are shown here by link only, until their owners say they may be copied.
Know something about this crew?
If this record is wrong or missing something, a middle name, the right squadron, who is who in a photograph, what he said about a day, tell us. Nothing you send is shown without your say-so.