Allen L Brooks

State of California
)
#
County of Los Angeles)
Staff Sergeant Allen L. Brooks, 38608033, being first duly
eworn deposes and says.
That I have been requested by the Judge Advoeate of AAF Re-
distribution Station #3, Santa Monica, California to make a statement
concerning the whereabouts of Technical Sergeant Raymond E, Cottman.
On 22 March 1945 Sergeant Cottman and myself embarked on a
bombing mission, the target being Ruhland, Germany. I was acting as
Bombardier on the said mission and was in the nose position manning
nose gua of the aircraft in which we were flying.
After dropping our bombs and getting out of the flak sone w9
received about three fighter strikes; that as a result of these attacks
the No. 2 and No. 3 engine were knocked out and there WS.8 a fire in both
the No, 2 and No. 3 engines. That I was unable to see Tochnical Sergeant
Cottman and I do not know his condition as a resalt of the enemy action
mentioned above.
I did not see him bail out as I bailed out through the Bomb-
bardiers esorpe hatch and I have no personal knowledge of his bailing
out of the aforesaid aircraft. That the aircraft, after I bailed out
made a complete circle to the right and exploded and crashed.
The Engineer, T/ögt. Charles C. Brakke informed mé that he
saw T/Sgt. Raymond E. Cottman, who was acting as a radio operator,
bail out and that was the last that Sgt. Brakke saw of T/Sgt. Cottmar.
s/Sgt. Morris M, Nafus I learned, landed near where I/Sgt.
Cottman landed, and while Sgt. Nafus was being carried from the field
in an injured condition by nembers of the German army, he saw the said
I/Sgt. Cottman lying in a pool of blood on the field and from his obm
servation he believed that Sgt. Cottuan was dead.
I have talked to the said s/agt. Morris M. Nafus since Come
ing back to the United States and I believe that he is still stationed
a.t the McCloskey General Hospital, Temple Texas.
allen L.Brooks
ÁLLEN L. BROOKS,
Thansmith
LOVOGE
s/sgt., 38608033
Sabsoribed I nd sworn to before x
this 17th day of September 1945,
FRANK MISKOVSKY, Capt, AC, Judge Advocate

- AFPPA-12
13253
CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
1.
Your
name BROOKS, ALLEN L.
Rank SISOT. Serial No. 38608633
2. Organization 483BamB Gp Commander BARTON Rank COL. San CO BLOMBURGG Rank CAPT.
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year
1945
month MARCH day 22 did you go down?
4. What was the mission,
19
, target, RHURLAND, GERMANU, target
time, 12:30
altitude,
24000FT
route scheduled, NORTH OVER
AUSTRIA
, route flown
NORTH
5. Where were you when you left formation? THREE MINUTES DFF OF TARGET.
6. Did you bail out?
YES
7. Did other members of crew bail out? ALL 10 MEN BAILED OUT.
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. Flease
give facts. If you don't know, say: "No Knowledge".
NO KNOWLEDGE
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground? IN A PINE FOREST
10.
What members of your crew were in the aircraft when it struck the ground? (Should
cross check with 8 above and individual questionnaires)
NONE
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 crow of which you
have knowledge. Indicate source of information.
as for as 7 know this is all the
information 2 have If 7 can he of further
please call upon the
a L. Busks
(Any additional information may be written on the back)
6-3862, AF