Milliam SCHILD

I certify that I saw a ship believed to be piloted by Lt Schild spinning
as we came through the flak area.
/s/ Warren 0. Griffin,
Pilot, 0751962
The ship went up about 100 feet over on its belly and then down in a spin.
Just before the ship started to spin I notised one chute. The right wing was
on fire and broke off, about that time it exploded and probably caused the ex-
plosion of the entire aircraft. I noticed three more chutes came out almost
simultaneously with the explosion, one vas on fire. The explosion of the ship
may have blown the other three men clear. The remains were all over the sky
and burning.
/3/ Theodore F. Solomon
S Sgt, Ball furret Gunner
I saw the ship fall off to the right of the formation with his right wing
tip shot off, he went into a spin, I saw four men bail out of the ship but did
not see the plane crash.
/s/ Aaron B. Roberts
Tail Gnr.
From the tail position in 077, I saw Lt. Schild's plane pass by our tail.
Just before his plane started its dive, one man bailed out, probably from
the waist or tail. Then the plane went into a dive, going straight down about
a thousand feet from the ground, the plane exploded bursting intoseveral
pieces. At the same time of explosion I saw. three or four white specs but
could not distinguish whether they were chutes or clouds.
/s/ Farron E. Jones,
Tail Gnr, Pvt.
A true copy:
ELLIS L. BURNS, JR.
CWO, USA,

CASUALTY REPORT FOR AGO
infean
Proparod by
MIS-X Soction
CPM Branch
DATE:
17 Oct 44
NARRATOR
: DONOBUE, John Las lst Lt.
SQUADRON
: 87.5th
ARMY SERIAL NO. : 0-1683520
GROUP
:
HOME ADDRESS : 115 Franklin Arlington. Mass.
TYPE AIRCRAFT : B-17
EX-REPORT NO. : None
DATE OF MISSION: 22 Jun 44
POSITION
MEMBERS OF CREW
PWIB RECORDS
PILOT
2ud Lt. W. Schild
KIA
CO-PILOT
2nd Lt. G. Preiberger
KIA
NAVIGATOR
2nd Lt. G. Dekovich
P/W
BOMBARDIER
lst Lt. John L. Donohue
Narrator
RADIO OPERATOR
T/Sgt. U. Johnston
ENGINEER
2/Sgt. L. Erlinger
P/N
ARMORER
s/Sgt. F. Denison
RD
ASS'T RADIO OPERATOR
s/Sgt. J. Ryan
RD
ASS'T ENGINKER
s/Sgt. (1) Spracher
KIA
ASS'T ARMORER
s/sgt. (:) Eldridge
KIA
KNOWN INFORMATION: The plane was on fire and the control completely shot away when I
bailed out at 24,000 feet on 22 Jun 1944 in the vicinity of the province of Piaworo,
Italy. The navigator, Lt. Dekovich, co-pilet, Lt. Freiberger and myealf were injured
previous to the pilot's order to bail out. The plane crashed in Gorgangano, a province
of Pianoro, Italy. The bodies of the pilot, Lt. Schild, the co-pilot, Li. Freiberger,
and the ass't armorer, S/Sgt. Eldribge, were buried in a Catholic semetery, near the
plane erash, S/Szt. Spracher bailed out, but his chute did not open. The Italian
peasants buried him 1dth the other three. s/sgts. Denison and Ryan were with me after
landing and returned to duty.
HEARSAY INFORMATION:
DISTRI BUTION:
AGO
-1
AC/AS (PERSONNEL) -1

AFPRA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIR:
Tile 11543
Neme of crow member: SCHILD William o.
Rank:
2nd. Lt.
Serial number:
0-690259
Position: Crew (Somber) Pilot
Did he
bail out? Do NOT DEFINITELY KNOW
Where?
If not, why not? DON'T KNOW
Last contact or conversation just prior to'or at time of loss of plane : CREW CHECK
BY HIM OVER INTERPHONE JUST SOUTH OF BOLOGNA
Was he injured?
Do NOT Know
Where was he when last seen? ABOUT 20 km SOUTH OF BOLOGNA, ITALY
Any hearsay information: BOMBARDIER SAID LATER THAT
HE SAW LT. SCHILD PUTTING ON THE CO-PILOT'S
CHUTE. THE CO-PILOT HAD FLAK WOUNDS IN
THE STOMACH. THEN THE BOMARDIER BAILS
OUT. HE ALSO SAID THAT A PRIEST SHOWED HIM
WHERE 4 OF
Source:
BOMBARDIER LT.J.L. DONONIVE
OUR CREWED
WERE BURIED
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
No
Total number of missions of above crew member: 19
Dates and destinations if possible: 4-13-44 BROD, YUGO-4-15-44 NIS.
YuGe - 4-17-44 BELGRALE YuGo - 4-29-44 TOULON
FRANCE 5-2-44 AVISO, INAY
5-5-44 TURNU
SEVERIN, 56-44 TURNU SEVERIN
5-10-44
WIENER NEUSTANT
5-19-44 - TAGLIAMENTO, ITALY
5-22-44 AVEZAGO HALY 5-23-44 FERRINTING 6-3861, AF
HALI
5-24-44 Aviso R.R. BRIDGE, ITALY- 5-26-44-5 ETIENNE, Fr

AFPPA-II
-
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Tile 11543
Name of crew member:
SCHILD, Milliam c.
Rank:
2nd Lt.
Serial number:
0-690259
Position: Crew (Bomber) or Pilot
Did he bail cut?
No
Where?
XXXXXX
If not, why not? He remained in the plane to try and put a chute on
Lt. Frieberger who was believed to be wounded.
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane: Lt. Schild spoke
on the intercom, "Donohue, come up here. Freiber- nver mind, everyone
bail out."
While he was speaking I do not believe so, but an explosion
Was he injured? occured shortly after and I believe he was either knocked
unconscious or killed at that time.
Where was he when last seen? I last saw him wresthing with Freiberger's chute
when he pushed me out the escape hatch, when I tried to help him.
Any hearsay information: The bodies of Lts. Schild, Frbiberger and Set.
Eldridge lay in the plane on the ground for three days while the @emram
Intellignce Officers stripped the 1 lane. At the end of this time they duo
a common grave for the three bodies, looted all valuables and then buried
them together. That night the Itlaian peasants dug up the bodies. placed
them in coffins, along with Sgt. Spracher's body, and gave thema
chrsstian funeral and buráal in the church cemetary, marked with forn
wooden crosses with the one worä, AMERICAN.
This iformation was devulged to me by a man sent to me by the
Source:
Catholic priest of that church.
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: It Schild was
killed in the plane during his attempts to save the life of a man who
was mortally wounded.
Total number of missions of above crew member: I believe that this was his 19th
Dates and destinations if possible: I do not know them as I was in the hospital
for some time and did not fly all of them with him. (His form 5 will
show therm all.)
NOTE: I have been to see Mrs. Schild personnally and have
told her all about what happened to her husband, but I omitted how he was
robbed of wedding ring, etc.
6-3861, AF