Thomas Cobb

Basios Ltr fr CG, AAF, Wash D C, AC/AS-1, Personal Affairs Div, Chief,
Notification Branch, tos co, 1020 AAFBU, Miami Beach, Flace dtd
23 Aug 45 Subje Ist Lt. Thomas W. Cobb, 0827610; 2d Lt. Otto
Pokorny, 02001638; 2d Lt Harding J. Rome, 0779225; s/Sgt Jack E.
Jeffreys, 3768087.
lst Ind. (Cont.)
2. Lieutenant Rome was co-pilot of a B-17 on which Sergeant Cottman
was radio operator gunnero He states that in the target area they were under
heavy attaok from enemy aircraft which sat both wings on fire and shot away
part of the tail surface oausing the pilot to lose control of the plane. The
pilot gave the bail out order, rang the alarm bell, approximately ten (10)
miles East of Ruhland, Germany, at an altitude of approximately 25,000 feet.
All members of the crew were seen on the ground and were believed safe by
Lieutenant Rome. However, it was rumored that 8/Sgt. Nafus (first name une
known), a member of Lieutenant Rome's crew, had seen Sergeant Cottman dead
on the ground with a bullet hole in his back. This is an unconfirmed report.
Lieutenant Home states that large numbers of armed and hostile civilians were
in the area and it is quite possible that Sgt. Cottman was killed by them.
3. The remainder of subject personnel will be interrogated upon their
arrival at this station.
FOR THE COMMANDING OFFICER:
ERNEST L. WITHERS, JR.
Emili I Whise
Major, Air Corps
Asst. Chief, Intelligence and Security
Division
2

CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Your name
ThoMAS w. Cobb
Rank 15 LT. Serial No. 0-827610
2. Organization 4834-6hip Commander ? Rank Coh. Sqn CO
?
Rank CAPT.
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year 1945
month MARCH
day 22 did you go down?
4. What was the mission,
,
target, RhuLAND GERMANY, target
t ime, 12:30 altitude, 29,000
route scheduled, PIRECT
, route flown pinket
5. Where were you when you left formation? IMMEQIATELY WEST OF TARGET
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". ALL MEMbERS OF
MY CREW BAILED OUT. WAS LAST To LEAVE.
MAVRICE N. NAFUS. . BANI GUNNER" WAS INJURED
LERVING ThE ship. OTHERS WERE of K.
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground? ABOUT is MILES s.w.ef Bhulano
10. What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 abc ve and individual questionnaires) NONE
11. Where were 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? I NEVER SA 41 RAYMOND COTTMAN
AFTER HE BAIRED out. FROM HERESAY IUNDER
STAND ThAT HE was MILLED BY COVILIANS.
1.4. Please give any similar information on personnel of any other crew of which you
have knowledge. Indicate source of information. I UNDERSTAND That
THERE were ThRee oTher ships IN MY
ROURDAN ThAT WERE shot DOWN I HAVE NO
on SURVIVORS
(Any additioral information may be written on the back)
6-3862, AF