A report lists him aboard, or his crew's history in Heroes of the 483rd dates the mission; the book is cited by page and not reproduced. The rest of his squadron's missions in his window are not placed on him by any document.
Eyewitness statement, page 11 · 18 July 1944
CONFIDENTIAL
I saw Lt. VandenDriest Ship # 927 as it was slining out of our
box in a two O'Clock direction, dropping very fast but seemingly under
control and in a cliding attitude. Flame was very evident beneath the
Fuselage and it 3 engine. It got out of my field of view when our right
wing obscured my vision. Ne was dropping down rather fast and :. W.
190's were makin : passes at him. I didn't see anymore.
s/
Henry R. Gajda
t/
MENRY R. GAJDA
2nd Lt. Air Corps
Co-Pilot
0-759362
Ship #42-32041
#
A TRUE COPY "
W.LCh
W. L. LINN,
L'ajor, Air Corps.
1.3
National Archives, MACR 6980, page 11 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Casualty questionnaire, page 31: William Peter Vanden Dries · 18 July 1944
AFPPA-12
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
1.
Your name William Peter Vanden Dries
Rank Captain
Serial No. 0-811158
Paul
James V.
2. Organization 483 BG Gp Commander Barton
Rank Col Sqn CO Reardon
Rank Lt.Col
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year
1944
month July
day
18
did you go down?
4. What was the mission, Bombing
, target, Memingen, Germany , target
time, 1150
,altitude,
24,000
route scheduled, North up
Adratic Sea, W past Ferrarroute flown Same
IP-Keatner, Ger. -target
5. Where were you when you left formation? Between IP and target
6. Did you bail out?
Yes
7. Did other members of crew bail out?
All that were alive - 6 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" Bombardier-2nd Lt. Russoff-
Bailed out navigators escape hatch, was repatriated Dec 44 thru Switzerland. Nav-
1st Lt Jerome Wojichowski- Bailed out navigators escape hatch, last seen by me at
Camp Lucky Strike, France in May 45. Eng-T/Sgt Ernest Hancock-Bailed out navigators
escape hatch, last seen Camp Lucky Strike May 45. Ball Turret Cunner- S/Sgt. Theodore
9.
Where did your aircraft strike the ground? Unknown
(over)
10. What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires) AE-S/Sgt Norman J. Fuhrmann-
RO-T/Sgt. Robert K. Bell - AG s/Sgt. William H. Barlow Jr - AAG S/Sgt. Robert J.
Allard
11. Where were they in aircraft? Sgt. Fuhrz.nn-Right waist, T/Sgt. Bell-Radio room-S/St.
Barlow - Tail turrett-S/Sgt. Allard - Left waist
12. What was their condition?
Dead
13. When, where, and in what condition did you last see any members not already des-
cribed above?
All described
14. Please give any similar information on perso.nel of any other crew of which you
have knowledge. Indicate source of Information. None
(Any additional information may be written on the back)
6-3862, AF
National Archives, MACR 6980, page 31 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
Eyewitness statement, page 46 · 18 July 1944
MR-ESU-1633
Kaufbeuren - 25 1944
Air Base Commend A (o) 14/V11
Statement of the personal belongings of captured Prisoner of War
Ist. Lt.
Van den Dries -
0-811 156
Parachuted on 18 July 1944 toward noon - was captured
Personal Belengings
1 - Identification tag
1 - Wrist Watoh
1 - Leather pocket with personal identification
1 - Flier's slasp
1 - Pencil
1 - Bracelet
1 - Cellophane pacitage with articles of food
1 - Pocket book with 100 france
2 Dollers
3300 Lire
THIS IS A TRANSLATION
07
IS
us
National Archives, MACR 6980, page 46 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.
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