Raymond J Scranton

CONFIDENTIAL
815TH BOMBARDIENT SQUADRON (H)
483rd BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
APO 520,
11 May 1944.
STATEMENT
At approximately 1115 on the morning of 10 May 1944, just after
turning off the target at Weiner Neustadt, Austria, Lt. Scranton's ship
was hit by flak. He was flying about 50 feet off our right wing, and
I first noticed gasoline escaping from his lert wing. The gasoline
ignited and flame started trailing the wing. Lt Scranton's ship started
to slide out of formation and I saw one man jump. I saw the body fall
several thousand feet, apparently a delayed jump. Crew members on my
plane reported that they saw seven chutes open. The burning ship passed
out of my field of vision and about four minutes later crew members
reported that the ship exploded.
SHERMAN D. STANFIELD,
Captain, Air Corps,
Pilot.
A TRUE COPY:
W. L. LINN,
Major, Air Corps,
Operations Officer.
SON HOENTIAL

815TH SQUADRON (H)
483RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
APO 520,
11 May 1944.
STATEMENT
With regards to the number of men that parachuted out of the
ship flown by Lt. Scranton: Our ship, Pilot, Capt. J. H. Stein, was
the lead ship of the third box over the target in our group. The ship
that went down was followed to the ground by our ship crew. Seven
meincers of the crew were seen to bail out, but it is possible that
other members of the crew bailed out and were not seen by our crew.
CARL B. HARDY,
2nd Lt., Air Corps,
Navigator
is TRUE COPY:
White
IT. L. LINN,
Major, Air Corps,
Operations Officer.

IMDIVIDUAL CAJULATY SUESTIONNALRE
Neme of crow members
SCRANTON Raymond J.
File No : 4846
Rauks
Pilot - 2nd Lt
Serial number
0-691297
Positions Crew (Bomber)
Pilot
Did he bail outs Had left seat preparing to bail out when I lust saw 111/0;
was apparently unin, jured, and had ample time to bail out .
Where? South West of Weiner-Neustadt, Austria, three to five miles.
1f not, why not?
Last contact or converetsion just prior to or st time
As we cut
the switches and feathered the engines be ordered me to bail out.
das he injured? Not at the time I last saw him.
Whre was he when last seon: Leaving the pilot's seat.
any heresey information:
None
Sources
any explanation of hic fate based in part or wholly on We were still
in the flak area when we bailed out, and the wind was from the south
west. tending to drift our chut'es back to the target. Had he opened
his chute immediately upon clearing the ship he would have drifted
into or across the target area.
Totel number of missions of above crew members Twelve (12)
Dates and destinations if possible; 12 April 1944, Split, Yugoslavia;
13 April 1944, Brod; 15 April 1944, NIS, Yugoslavia,
24 April 1944, Weiner Neustadt, Austria (double-credit - mission)
28 April 1944, Piombino, Taly; 29 April 1944, Touion, France;
5 May 1944, Turnu Severin, Roumania; 6 May 1944, Turnu Severin,
Roumania; 7 May 1944, Belgrade, Yugoslavia; TO may 1944, Weiner
Neustadt, Austria (double-credi mission).
DonaldR. Eway
1STLT. 0.759207

INDIVIDUAL CAJULATY CUESTIONMALRE
Name of crew members
SCRANTON , Raymond J.
File No : 4846
Ranks
2nd Lt
Serial number:
0-691297
Positiont Crow (Bomber) Pilot
Did he befl out? Know Rounnyx No Tomy Know
Wheref Ledge" No
If not, why not? PROGABLY WOUNDED Add VANTED TO MAKE JURE
WE VERE ALL OUT, MATIS why PIME
Last contact er converestion just prior to or et time 11:
At WAST CONTACT, the Soun DED as IF hE
HE Kepa yelling for us Jo BAIL OUT.
des
he injure d? WHO hurt FOR SURE, Id ast know.
Thure was bi when last seen? IN ThE Pilst's SEAT
any beresey information : Tomy KNOWLEDGE JAINY The LAST ONE
OUT, I Kept hemaing Outoverthe Innecthone, Then
he coughe d up AS if he yot bit, ALL this TIME he keft
yelling FOR USTO Bail OUT, he cos Ld have done so himsda
CONTROL To MRAS SURA we would hAVE ENOULS TIME TO
he Kelt his position KEE pring The MANE under
Sources BAILOUT, Without OF THE REST OF DE REW-WOULD
BE ALIVAD, Today. JELIEVED TO BE DEAR he DESERVES The
any explanatic. de hi: fate besed in part or wholly on surpcift icn CULTURY
SOME DE THE GREW MEMBERS SHW OUR HANE
CAN BESFOW UPON his SOUL
Blow up is Mid- - Air, NONE of $3, saw ANY
OMF E/SE Ball OUT PRESUMABLY, LEVERANTINA
MUST have still BEEN INSIDE THEELONE, whEN Ep/o-
SOON OCCURREd. HOWEVER, he could HAVEWARE OST With 10 ove
LAST Detes ONE and OF destinations which BOMBS if possible; WHERE DROPPEd be FORE BENNY cause NY
Total number of missions of above crow members 12 Missions COUNTING
MISSION No.
DATE
1.
TARGET
DESTINATION
4-12-4
b
4-13-44
M/Yz MARSHALLINE YeRes,
bedty Juyo
3.
4-15-44
M.Y.
:,
"
Nis. Jugo
4.
4-16-44
M.Y.
11
"
Nis. Juyo.
5.
4-24-44 any A/C. FALTORY. WEINE USTAD
(OVER)

INDIVIDUAL CASULATY CUESTIONNALE
Noma of crew mambers
SCRANTON , Raymond J.
File No : 4846
konks
Pilot - 2nd Lt
Seriel number:
0-691297
Position: Crew (Bomber) Pilot
Oid be
boll out? I DON'T KNOW
where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time
HE
THP ALL OF us TO BAIL OUT. THAT THE PLANE WAS ON
NRE. AFTER THAT NE RANG BEZZ
das be injured d? THE CO-PILOT TOLD ME HE WAS ALL RIGHT
NE LEFT NTM To PAIL out.
war he when last seen? IN PILOT'S SEAT.
any heresey informetion: $ LT. SCRANTON, TOLD it. D.R.EWING
To BAIL OUT AND THAT tit WOULD B. = RIGHT
BEHIND HIM
sources LT. DONALD R. E WING LCO - PILOT)
any or or on
explanation. hir fate based in part wholly I DONF
BELIEVE HE 607 out OF THE PLANE BEFORE
IT EXPORED (I WOULD SAY IT EXPLODED ABOUT
a 4000 FT.
Totel aumber of missions of above crew members
12
Dates and destinations if poesible;
6-3861-47
a-i