Mission 50

AFPPA-12
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
6826
1. Your name Richard P. White Jr.
Rank
lot It
Serial No.0.700086
2. Organizatic 483 Gp Commander J.L.BArtoN Rank Col. Sqn CO Seith Rank Capt.
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year 1944
month July
day 15
did you go down?
4. What was the mission, 28th
, target, Pleast,
, target
t ime, 11:30
,altitude, 22,000
route scheduled, USVA
,route flown SAME
5.
Where were you when you left formation? rally point
6. Did you bail out? Yes
7. members of crew bail out?
Did other yes
8. Tell c.ll you know about when, where, how each person in your aircraft for whom no
indinidual questionnaire is attached bailed out. A crew list is attached. Please
gi.
eventenlly returned to Allied state control - All capture
facts. If you don't know, say: "No Knowledge". All bailey out and
9. Where did your aircraft strike .the ground? Apres somi - 129° from michwritch. year
dayodina dugoslAviA
10. What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires) had bailed not
11. Where were they in aircraft?
12. What was their condition?
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 source
knowledge. Indicate of information. Enter skiw same 6p
sq Pilet Vister Vlavatich crasted and wine All killed hear when
art plane landed. Information ION from Chetrik officials And from
American military mission who had resured serial has of some t the
me A from the Chetrike.
(Any additional information may be written on the back)
6-3862, AF

AFPPA-I
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
6826
1. Your name HaBBell, William H
Rank Lt.col Serial No. 0-367239
2. Organizatic 388th Gp Commander chesrore. C4 Rank col Sqn CO Rank M2,00
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year 1944
month Dec day 31 did you go down?
4. mission, I'
What was the
, target, Hamburg
, target
time,
altitude, 2600 feey route scheduled,
, route flown
5. Where were you when you left formation? over target
6. Did you bail out? no
7. Did other members of crew bail out? no
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".
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground? water north Soa
10. What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires)
11. Where were they in aircraft?
12. What was their condition?
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)
lover)
6-3862, AF

APPPA- 11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member:
BROOKS, Lee C.
6826
Rank:
2nd LL.
Serial number:
026156
Position: Crew (Bomber) Navigator
Did he bail out?
Where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to'or at time of loss of plane :
Was he injured?
Where was he when last seen?
Any hearsay information:
Source :
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member :
Dates and destinations if possible:
6-3861, AF

AFPPA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member: WHITE, Richasd P. Jr.
Rank:
2nd LL.
Serial number:
0-700e86
Position: Crew (Bomber) (Edebtonl : Navigator
Did he bail out?
Where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
Was he injured?
Where was he when last seen?
Any hearsay information:
Source :
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member:
Dates and destinations if possible,:
6-3861, AF

AFPPA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member: WILSON,Aobert I.
6826
Rank:
2nd Lt.
Serial number:
0700793
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Radar Nevigator
Did he bail out?
Where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
Was he injured?
Where was he when last seen?
Any hearsay information:
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member:
Dates and destinations if possible:
6-3861, AF

AFPPA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member: NORTOM,Laurence T.
Rank:
T/Sgt.
Serial number:
34290363
Position: Crew (Bomber) - : Engineer
Did he bail out?
Where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
Was he injured?
Where was he when last seen?
Any hearsay information:
Source :
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member:
Dates and destinations if possible:
6-3861, AF

AFPPA 11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member: M.
6826
Rank:
T/sgt,
Serial number:
31.390363
Position: Crew (Bomber) : Enginmer
Did he bail out?
Where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to'or at time of loss of plane:
Was he injured?
Where was he when last seen?
Any hearsay information:
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member:
Dates and destinations if possible:
6-3861, AF

AFPPA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member: E. Jr.
6826
Rank:
T/sgt.
Serial number:
33551776
Position: C-ew (Bomber) - : Redio Operator
Did he bail out?
Where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
Was he injured?
Where was he when last seen?
Any hearsay information:
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member:
Dates and destinations if possible:
6-3861, AF

5. Radar Navigator
Wilson, Robert I. 2nd Lt. 0700793
Claud H. Wilson, father,
519 W. Reservoir Blvd.,
Peoria, Illinois.
6. Engineer
Norton, Laurence T. T/Sgt. 34290363 Edward Norton, Sr., father
4010 Clayton Drive,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- 7. Asst Engineer
Brothers, Lenard M. s/Sgt. 18182382
Arie Lee Brothers, mother,
1911 Ave. M, Lubbock, Tex.
8. Radio Operator
Brooks, Norman E. Jr. T/Sg
33551776
Ida G. Brooks, mother,
723 E. Belvidere Ave.,
Baltimore, Maryland.
9. Arloorer Gunner
Burney, Russell W. S/Sgt. 39276287 Cloys Reed Burney, father,
4542-35th St. San Diego,
California. RTO
10. Asst Armorer Gunn. Dowers, Roy J.
s/Sgt. 38467886
Mary Willie Bowers,
mother, Route 3, RXD
McAlester, Oklahoma.
11. IDENTIFY BELOW THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAST KNOWLEDGE OF AIR-
GRAFT AND CHECK APPROPRIATE (only one) COLUMOI TO INDICATE BASIS FOR SAME:
Contacted
Last
Saw
NAI/E IN FULL
RANK
SERIAL NO.
by Radio
Sighted Crash Forced Landing
1. Theodore Diamond
Ist Lt.
0695015
X
2. William W. Willians
I/Sct.
39283996
X
3. John C. Gibson
s/Sgt.
19003166
x
12.
IF PERSOMNEL ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SURVIVED, CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
(X)
Parachutes were used ( ) Persons seen walking away from scene of crash
) Any other reason (specify)
13. ATTACH, AS AN INCLOSURE TO MIS REPORT, EITHER AEKIAL PHOTOGRAPH, MAP, CHART,
OR SKETCH, SHOWING APPROXINATE TOCATION WHERE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN. Attached.
11. ATTACH, AS INCLOSURES TO THIS REPORT, EYEWITNESS DESCRIPTIONS OF CRASH,
FORCED LANDING, OR OTHER CIRGUMSTANCES 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 swarch, so state, giving reason) None. Crew MIA in
enemy occupied territory.
Date of this Report: 17 July 1944.
M.L.Chen
W. L. LINN,
Ma jor, Air Corps,
4 Incls:
Operations Officer.
Incl 1 - Overlay
Incl 2 - Statement of Lt. Diamond
Incl 3 - Statement of I/Sgt. Williams
Incl 4 - Statement of s/Sgt. Gibson
C
0
I
- 2 -

CONEIDENTIAL
8401 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON: (ii)
483RD GROUP (II)
office of the Operations Officer
APO 520
15 July 1944
STATEMENT OF WITNESS
Lt. Kilpatrick feathered IFL engine on Airplane No. 42-97653 over
target after direct hit in main tank in left wing. About five minutes later
#2 engine was feathered. Despite articles being jettisoned, the box of five
ships lost 5000 feet of altitude liftoen minutes off tarjet Box attacked by
three Me 109*s-driven off by escort. Box continued to lose altitude going
down to 7500 feet by time of reac. ing Danube. Rogained 1300 when #3 began to smoke
violently. 1215 thrae chutes observed leaving ship - position 20 miles
ortheast of Mis, Yugosiamia. At 1218 five ore men abanded the plane, and
as renaining ships went through a cloud at 1220, It. Kilpatrick's ship vecred
off to the loft, with Lt. Vlahovich following, and one more chute was observed
coming out. Ensuing undercast prevented further observation.
Theodore Diamond
TIGSODORE DIAMOND
lst Lt. AC
Mavigator 792
lst Lt. Whitakor, Pilot

CONFIDENTIAL
840th bompardeent SQUADRON (H)
483rd BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 520
15 July 1944
STATEMENT OF WITNESS
Coming off the target Lt. Kilpatrick's ship feathered first No. 1 and
then No. 2 Engines, this was at approximately 1020. Immediately the crew
began throwing out ammunition, radio, flak suits, etc. This kept up until
shortly after 1200, when No. 3 Engine was throwing black clouds of smoke.
The entire box kept with the ship as he lost altitude to 13,000 ft. just
off the target and then on down to 7,000 it. At by my watch the first
man bailed out, seven more followed in rapid succession. The ship then got
to far ahead and to my left for me to see anything else, therefor I didn't
notice the openiar of any other chutes.
-
W. WILLIANS
T/Sgt., Air Corps

CONFIDENTIAL
840th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (II)
483rd BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 520
15 July 1944
STATEMENT OF WITNESS
Airplane No. 42-97653 feathered No. 1 and No. 2 Engines after he got
off the target and we were in 84,1 still in flak. When we were still in the
target area but not out of flak we were all attacked by four fighters. We
all went down to 10,000 feet and then ran into clouds and we climbed up
again to 18,000. About half way to the coast I noticed a chute come out of
the nose and seven more come out of the waist door. The ship banked over
and I saw two more ehutes come out. The ship then went into a spin and
that was the last that I seen of it.
John C Gibson
Thin GIBSON
C.
s/sgt. Air Corps
CONTICUTINAL

1955
C
I
in
5. Engineer
Navarro, Charles P. /I/Sgt 19163057 Mary Novarro, wife,
606 E. Munroe St.,
Phoenix, Arizona.
6. Asst Engineer
Stewart, Leolass C. Cpl 39567415 Mrs. Doris Stewart,
wife, 811 Olympic Blvd,
Montebello, Calif.
7. Radio Operator
Fletcher, Bernard B.
I/Sgt
3746975
Clara M. Fletcher,
9
mother, 922 W 4th St.,
Grand Island, Nebraska.
8. Asst Radio Oper.
Watkins, Robert I.
T/Sgt 15098296
Thelma Watkins, mother,
RFD #1, Adrian, Mich.
9. Arnorer Gunner
Barton, Stephen H.
s/sst 31126614
Edward B. Barton, fathery
269 Lincoln Ave.,
Amherst, Massachusetts.
10. Asst Armorer Gunn. VanDeren, Alfred L. Jr. s/sgt 18162968 Vera Pauline VanDeren,
mother, 3501 McFaulin
Blvd, Dallas 5 Texas.
11. IDENTIFY BELOW THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE DELIEVED TO HAVE LAST KNO-VLEDGE or AIR-
CRAFT AND CHECK APPROPRIATE (cnly one) COLULN TO INDICATE BASIS FOR SAME:
Contacted Last
Saw
NALE IN FULL
RANK
SERIAL NO. by Radio Sighted Crash Forced Landing
1. Jack H. Leatherman 2nd Lt. 0807466
2. Louis E. Guerrina lst Lt. 0436450
X
3. Peter E. Mendoza
T/Sgt. 39265653
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.
13. ATTACHI, AS IN INCLOSURE TO THIS REPORT, EITHER AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH, MAP, CHART,
OR SKETCH, SHOWING APPROXIMATE LOCATION WHERE WAS LAST SEEN.
14. ATTACH, AS INCLOSURES TO THIS REPORT, EYEWITNESS DESCRIPTIONS OF CRASH,
FORCED LANDING, OR OTHER CIRCURISTANCES 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) Air Sea Rescue conducted
search but to no avail.
DATE OF THIS REPORT: 17 July 1944.
WLL Shin
W. L. LINN,
Kajor, Air Corps,
4
Incls:
Operations Officer.
Incl 1 - Overlay
Incl 2 - Statement of Lt. Leathernan
Incl 3 - Statement of Lt. Guerrina
Incl 4 - Statement of T/Srt. Mendoza
n
- 2 -
32

CONFIDENTIAL
6955
34011 (:)
Of.ice of the Operations Officor
APO 520
16 Jul: 19h4
Lt. Vlahov en lost the 12 ongino :lo. the et
aros. dowever, to seemed CO have no other di bight
formation.
then It. K no follo 02 it at least ant
or bie Then U. niva cloud Vic otartol to
clinb and 10 had of who 1,,aw st. sau a -17 flying
a course para el to ours. le was lower then we were and to 01 I'i tht.
We continued cli joing and - lost si tht
About live mimutes altor we it the Adriatic the broke. No were
abont 21,000 it an onco agai.1 - sa. all irolane vor low and to oul right.
carmot postudvel; licetts It as a -17. 3 lost sight of that plano
after a while.
Men we were hal itter across the Administer Lt. Scott called and said that an
airolone had iss ditchol, .ediatel scarted 60 do 360° svirals and came
down 60 1500 St. On une cal od All', Gea and ave them our pos- -
ition and all the particulars. During the we spirale down I saw no signis
of any dircraft, dingly or personell in the waser. As we onl: had bliree gool
engines and limited Tuol we finali resundo our course. A short disuance from
the scene of the dischin we sau a PDY or some sort naval aircraft. it was
at
ubo t 2,0 0 Ct. altitude and a beaded 00 be flying a varying course.
Jack Learnard LEAT
JAC
2nd Lt, AC
CO-Pilot (999) )
P)
33

CONFICENTIAL 6955
040th
403rd BOUDARD ENT GROUP (I))
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 520
15 July 1944
OF WITNESS
Airplane No. 42-102429 was one of the five ships in our box. The
ship was apparently device, by ovor the berget, about five minutes later
653
1 noticed that No. 2 Engine was feuthered. The ship, biloted by Lc.
Kilpatrick re ained with the formation for a while and then the ontiro
crew bailed out. About ten minutes bast this point the remoinder of the
box scattered due to clouds that extended approximately 6,000 foet
to 18,000 feet. Our shio climbed through this front antil we reached an
altitude 01 about 21,000 feet. The 1 st timo that I saw 429, the pilot
seemod bo be trying to got undor the overcast.
Louis Generrina
LOUIS E.
lst Lt., Air Corps
34

69555
CONFICENTIAL
84OTH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H)
483RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
APO
520
15 July 1944
STATEMENT OF WITNESS
I saw an unidentified airplane about eight or ten miles to our left,
on our way back to the Italian coast. I saw it hit the water twice and
then disappear. This was about forty three miles from the coast according
to our Navigater.
PETER E. MENDOZA, T/Sgt.
Engineer, Crew 810
CONFIDENTIAL
35