42-39954 PAPER DOLL

CREW LIST ON MARCH 23,1944      MACR 3344

1LT      LASCELLIS W. YATES, JR.       PILOT                 POW
  F/O     LEO F. MAYERS                          CO-PILOT          POW
2LT      LOUIS OPPENHAM                     NAVIGATOR     POW
2LT      DOYLE MCDONALD                   BOMBARDIER POW
TSGT   ALBERT C. FRITZ                       ENGINEER         POW
TSGT   VANCEL V. GORDON                RADIOMAN        POW
SSGT   TEDDY F. WEATHERFORD       BT GUNNER      POW
SSGT   FRANCIS M. BUFKIN                 RW GUNNER     POW
SSGT   ROBERT L. FRANKO                 LW GUNNER     POW
SSGT   JOHN E. ZERKLE                       TAIL GUNNER   POW

MISSION #21 TARGET: BRUNSWICK

AIRCRAFT BURNED AND EXPLODED IN A PEAT BOG AT WAGENFELD-OPPENWEHE, 30KM NW
OF LUBBEC, WEST OF HANNOVER. ALL CREW BAILED OUT SAFELY AND WERE CAPTURED.

PLANE WAS HIT OVER HANNOVER BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT. IT HAD A HOLE IN ONE WING AND
THE #2 ENGINE SHOOK OFF. THE BOMB BAY WAS ON FIRE. IT HELD 105 FRAG BOMBS.
AFTER ALL THE CREW BAILED OUT, ACCORDING TO SGT JOHN ZERKLE, THE PLANE
CRASHED AND DISINTEGRATED. ALL OFFICERS WENT TO STALAG LUFT III AND THE
ENLISTED MEN WENT TO STALAG LUFT VI. ZERKLE WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO STALAG
LUFT 1.