44-6174 Miss Chievious

COAFI-D-ETAL
EUS3 5. Engineer
pow
Brickson, Charles W. T/Sgt 38398451 Mae Ella Erickson,
RTD
mother, 1221 S.W.
27th St., Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
DEC 10 6. Asst Engineer M / A Wlitch, Walter G.
s/Sgt 32726713 Mrs. Ida Ulitch, mother,
2271 Cincinnati Ave.,
Bronx, N.Y.
NA t 7. Radio Operator M minites J.
Bermande, William T/Sgt 31280499 Mrs. I. se Gordon, mother
64 Elizabeth St.;
Norwich, Conn.
DED 2 8. Asst Radio Oper. Nicholas J.
36735692 Mr. Peter Cook, father,
158 W. 158th St. S.
Holland, Ill.
KIA7 9. Ammorer Gunner M At Milks, Lewis E.
s/Sgt 3766312C Mrs. Rowena Milks,
mother RFD #2,
KIA
Sioux City, Iowa.
DED
10. Asst Armorer Gunn. Murphy, Ralph B.
mita
s/Sgt
19106882
Mr. Dysart Murphy,
father, Rt #8, Box 523,
Phoanix, Arizona.
11. IDENTIFY BELOW THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAST KNOWLEDGE OF AIR-
CRAFT AND CHECK APPROPRIATE (only one) COLUMN TO INDICATE BASIS FOR SAME:
Contacted
Last
Saw
NAME IN FULL
RANK
SERIAL NO.
by Radio
Sighted Crash Forced Landing
1. Willard S. Sperry
Lt Col.
0396325
X
12. IF PERSONNEL ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SURVIVED, CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
) Parachutes were used ( ) Persons seen walking away from scene of crash
Any other reason (specify) Unknown?. Surrounding circumstances not reasonably
conclusive of KIA casualty status.
13.
ATTACH, AS AN INCLOSURE TO THIS REPORT, EITHER AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH, MAP, CHART
OR SKETCH, SHOWING APPROXIMATE LOCATION WHERE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN. Attached.
14. ATTACH, AS INCLOSURES TO THIS REPORT, EYEWITNESS DESCRIPTIONS OF CRASH,
FORCED LANDING, OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES PERTAINING TO MISSING AIRCRAFT. Attached.
15. ATTACH, AS AN INCLOSURE TO THIS REPORT, A DESCRIPTION OF THE EXTENT OF
SEARCH, IF ANY, AND GIVE NAME, RANK, AND SERIAL NUMBER OF OFFICER IN
CHARGE HERE: (If no search, so state giving reason) None. Crew MIA
in enemy occupied territory.
Date of this Report: 20 July
Wdddum
W. L. LINN,
Major, Air Corps,
2 Incls:
Operations Officer.
Incl 1 - Overlay
Incl 2 - Statement of Lt Col Sperry
CONFIDENTIAL
- -

HEADQUARTERS
FOUR EIGHTY THIRD BOMBARDLIENT GROUP (H)
APO 520
Statement of Witness
On 18 July 1944 the 483rd Bombardment Group (H) vent into the
assigned target area without fighter escort or other group support. As
the initial point was approached approximately seventy-five (75) enemy
fighters swept by the group formation on the right making a wide turn at
the rear in preparation for a tail attack.
When the 483rd Group executed the turn onto the bombing run the
four boxes went into the box-in-trail formation. While the turn was being
made, the aforementioned enemy fighters attacked, supported by an addition-
al force of equal fighter strength. The estimated total enemy fighter
strength vas approximately 175-200 when the tail attack was made.
Seven airplanes of the 816th Bombardment Squadron made up the number
four box, and the entire enemy fighter strength made a concentrated attack
on these seven airplanes. Three B-17's were shot to pieces while in level
flight and while maintaining their positions in formation. A fourth went
dovm, apparently shot out of control, and broke apart as soon as the ship
went into a spin. The three remaining airplanes of the 816th Squadron
drifted out of formation and appeared to be out of control, two of which
were beginning to burn. Several occasional parachutes were seen although
a number of crew members were throwm from their ships and i is unknowm
whether their parachutes functioned.
A considerable number of enemy fighters were shot dovm by the gunners
in these ships while the attack vas being made, but the fighter fire power
was overwhelming. The enemy attack was made in such a manner that very few
guns of each airplano could bear on the fightors.
The fighter attack was executed in waves of 5 and 6 ships in close
javelin formation closing directly and on a level with the tail of each B-17.
The fighter waves concentrated on 2 or 3 ships on an attack, and fired only
on the rearmost airplanes.
The fighters moved up to the number three box afte: destroying the
airplanes of the 816th Squadron, and five ships of the 817th Squadron were
destroyed in the same manner.
Twelve remaining airplanes of the 483rd Group reached the target and
dropped their bombs.
WILLARD S. SPERRY;
Lt. Col., Air Corps,
Deputy Group Commander.