Albuquerque Sta

CONFIDENTIAL
815th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H)
483RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (II)
OFFICE OF THE OPERATIONS OFFICER
APO 520
27 December 1941
SUBJECT: Statement of Pilot
TO
:
Whom It May Concern
1. I participated in the bembing of Linz, Austria on December 27th*
1944. We were flying in number seven position immediately behind ship number
333, piloted by Lit Sampson and his crew. As we neared the target and came
into the flak area, It Sampson's ship was seen to turn to the left and
gradually it went into a slow, downward spiral to the left. Apparently the
plans had been struck by flak. Smoke poured from the number two engine.
To the best of my knowledge I saw five chutes open shortly after the plane
spun toward the earth. Members of my crew saw from three to five chutes
open.
2. I hereby certify that the foregoing statements are true and
correct to the best of my kmowledge.
s/ William M. Bennett
t/ WILLIAM M. BENNETT
2nd Lit, Air Corr:
ASN 0-774484
Pilot
A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY
ARTHUR C. JORDAN
Curbun C Jadon
Capt, Air Corps
Operations Officer
CONMIENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL
815TH B OMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H)
483RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
OFFICE OF THE OPERATIONS OFFICER
APO 520
27 Decembor 194,
SUBJECT: Statement of Navigator
TO
:
Whom it May Concern
1. I saw what was probably a direct hit by a 105, where the left
wing attaches to the fuselage. Then seconds later I saw what I thought
was seven men bail out - just aaw five chutes open, just before the left
wing foll off of the airplane.
s/
Harry O. Ritter
c/
HARRY 0. RITTER
2nd It, Air Corps
ASN 0-20611494
Navigator
A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY
Cushue C Joshan
ARTHUR C. JORDAN
Capt, Air Corps
Operations Officer
CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL
875Th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H)
483RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (II)
OFFICE OF THE OPERATIONS OFFICER
APO 520
27 December 1944
SUBJECT: Statement of Navigator
To
:
Whom It May Concern
1. On the 27th of December 1944 at apprexinately 124,6, one B-17
G
went down over the target of Linz, Austria. This ship had expleded when
the undorsigned first observed it, alao five parachutes were definately
seen to be open. One wing was seen burning and four or five other objects
were seen falling. It is not kown whether these objects were parts of
the airplane or members of the crew.
s/ Herace G. Small
t/ HORACE G. SMALL
2nd Lt, Air Corps
ASN 0-791863
Navigator
A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY
ARTHUR C. JORDAN
Anthum C. Jandan
Capt, Air Corps
Operations Officer
CHARGEST

Hoersching - 28 Dec. 1944
Air Base Command
Hoersching Receiving Sta.
Ref: Dulag-Luft 2709
Concerning Downing of Fortress in nesr St. Florian, Upper 27 Dec . 1944
at 12:46 o'clock.
Enclosures; 9 forms 8 envollopes - 1 package
To, Oberursel
This Receiving Command tranefors the following living Prisoner s of war.
1.) Lt. Lightfoot
1 entelope
2.) Set. Basel
1
3.)
Sigt. Fore
1
4.) set. Langaton
1
5.)
Sgt. Lehto
1
6.) Sgt. Lopes
1
.
In the plane were also three dand members,
7.)
2nd Lt.
Sampada
1
8.)
F/O
Lane
1
9.)
- -
Karnes
1
The neme of the 4th dead person dould not be setsblished se the living crew
members refused any information. Included are the findiage of the wounded
men, who are transportable.
Purthermore, captured itomm are being forwarded
3 Packs rations
3 Fliers wallets, mpen
1 Purse with 48 do'llars, open
3 Magazine belts vith bandages
2 First-aid kits
5 Printed folder
3 Packe natches
Metal and Chair

AFPPA 11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
File + 10645
Name of crew member:
have, Richard W.
Rank:
7/0
Serial number:
2-4430
Position: Crew (Domber)
Go-Piles
Did he bail out?
No
Where?
WAS vNCONSClOUS
IP not, why not? BELEIVED To have Been PEAD 0 RWOUNDED
Last contect or conversation just prior to'or at time of loss of plane: PRIOR
To STARTING BOMB RUN
Was he injured?
Belewed to have been wounded or dead
Where was he when last seen? AT CO-PILOTS POSITION
Any hearsay information:
NONE
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: Beleived
dead or WOUNDED
Total number of missions of above Four
crew member:
Dates and destinations if possible:
6-38361, AF

AFPPA-12
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
1.
Your nama REUBEN M. LEHTP
Rank 5/SCT. Serial No 86728973
81559
2. Organizatio Commander BARTON Rank CoL Sqn COS.C.STANFKS ank MATOR
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year 1944
month DEC. day 27 did you go down?
4. What was the mission, LINZ, Austria target, MARIHALING YARRS , target To
time, 1220 Approx. altitude, 27,500
route scheduled, Ho KNow
VIENNA
, route flown To LINZ
5. Where you when you left formation? No. 3 position Last Lowlifementin
were
6. Did you bail out? Yes
7. Did other members of erew 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". NAV. 1st Lt. 6.6. Lightfoot
FWD. Escape HATCH, APMGSSOT. R.M. LEHTO, Fwa Escape HATCH. SCTITT.LANG-
STON R.D. MAIN HATCH B.b. SCT.J.M.LOPEZ MAIN HAILH, SGT. W.M. FOREG, MAIN HATCH
S6T. H.F. BASEL, G, MAINHATCH
:. Where did your aircraft strike the ground? IN VICINITY of Wels, Austria
10. What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires) 14, Lt. HOWARD E. SAMPSON,
Pilot, F/O. R.W.LANE, G.P, 5/56T. S.J.SMITH, TOG.
11. Where were they in aircraft? PilotaCP-FlightDeck, Too. BOMBAY
12. What was their condition? Pilot- Alive. su C.P. WOUNDED OR DEAD TOG-DAZED
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

AF.PA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Tie . 10645
Name of crew member:
Earnes, J.
Rank:
SgS.
Serial number:
38566005
Position: Crow (Bomber)
AAG
Did he bail out?
NO
Where?
Linz, Austria.
ona
If not, why not?
Hit by flak.
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
Last contact was made by prior to approaching the I.P.
Was he injured?
Killed instantly by flak
Where was he when last seen? on the ground 1 dead.
Any hear. ay information:
Sgt. Karnes was bit by flak therefore was
unable to pull the rip cord,bis parachute was still
unopened when I saw him.
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: Sgt. Karnes was
obiviousley hit by flak sinre he was unable to pull rip
cord.
Total number of missions of above crew member:
two
Dates and destinations if possible:
(1) Odertal Gormeny, (2) Linz Austria
trie sest.
0-3861,AF

AF?PA-Il
File # 10845
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crow member:
Stanley D.
Rank:
s/ägt.
Serial number:
38421246
Position: Crow (Bomber)
DO
Did he bail out?
No
Where?
Linz 3 Austria.
If not, why not?
H1t by flak.
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane : Last time
was when were approsehing the T.P ship. f.
Was he injured?
Killed by flak
Where was he when last seen? when the plane went down.
Any hearsay information: Sgt Smith was obivimusly killed instantly since he
was in the nose of the plane when we were hit.
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: yas the only
proof is that he was wasn't taken prisoner with
the rest of us who got out and from the information
I gathered from the ldt. Lightfoot the navigator, who
told me Sgt. Smith was hit br flak.
Total number of missions of above crew member: thirty five.
Dates and destinations if possible:
(1) Odertal Germany, (2) Lins,Austria,
can not tremember the rest.
a-1
6-3861, AF

AFPPA-11
File + 10645 1.
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member:
SNITH, Stanley D.
Rank:
s/sgt.
Serial number:
38421246
Poeition: Crew (Bomber) :
TOG
Did he bail out?
Unknown
Where?
Unlcnown
If not, why not?
Unknown
Last contact or conversation just prior to'or at time of loss of plane:
None
Was he injured?
Where was he when last seen?
Unknown
Any hearsay information: Yes, according to the Nav. (Lite Lightfnot) he had been vounded.
Source:
Lt. Lightfoot Nav.
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Rode aircraft to ground with Pllot and Co-Pilot.
Total number of missions of above crew member Approx. Thirty-five (350)
Dates and destinations if possible: Unk except for the below:
97 Dec. 1944 M/Y Linz, Aus.
6-3861, AF

AFPPA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
File . 10615
Name of crew member:
IM, Stanley D.
Rank:
Serial number:
39421246
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Did he bail out?
not sure
Where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to'or at time of loss of plane: Just before
the bomb rwn. interphone check,
Was he injured?
Killed
Where was he when last seen? none of the crew saw him after they boiled
out
Any hearsay information:
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: The engonen
-
Rweben Lehto send he sdw him go past him
evidently going back to the bomb bay, or the worst
but I guess he was hemmed up in the ship when
it exploded.
Total number of missions of above crew member: not sure (about 40)
Dates and destinations if possible:
6-3861, AF

AFPPA-11
File # 10645
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member:
SMITH, Stauley D.
Rank:
s/sgt.
Serial number:
38421246
Position: Crew (Bomber)
TOG
Did he bail out?
Not to MY Knowledge
Where?
If not, why not?
DON't know
Last contact or conversation just prior to'or at time of loss of plane:
"FLAK is COMMIN thick"
Was he injured?
Don't KNOW
Where was he when last seen? IN the Nose
Any hearsay information:
He started BACK thru the
BOMBAYS ON the CA+WWLK
Source: ONE ofthe ctewemBers
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
He S tArte D BACK ON the CA+WWLK
So he could BAI) out From the WAIST
But DIDN'T MAKE it BeCAuse the PLANE
went INTO a sprn
Total number of missions of above crew member: 33 MISSIONS
Dates and destinations if possible:
Kokowledge
6-3861, AF