42-97371 HAIRLESS JOE
MACR 4822
Mission #48 Target: Brux, Czechoslovakia
May 12, 1944
Flew #2 in low squadron
2LT
|
HUGH T ATKINSON
|
PILOT
|
POW
|
7 MISSIONS
|
2LT
|
RALPH C SCOTT
|
CO-PILOT
|
POW
|
6 MISSIONS
|
2LT
|
JAMES T LUNDEBJERG
|
NAVIGATOR
|
POW
|
5 MISSIONS
|
2LT
|
FRANCIS L HEADLEY
|
BOMBARDIER
|
POW
|
6 MISSIONS
|
SSGT
|
ERWIN A NORDT
|
ENGINEER
|
POW
|
6 MISSIONS
|
SSGT
|
JOHN W COVILL
|
RADIOMAN
|
POW
|
6 MISSIONS
|
SGT
|
NELSON L JACK
|
BT GUNNER
|
POW
|
6 MISSIONS
|
SGT
|
EDWARD K BROWNE
|
RW GUNNER
|
POW
|
6 MISSIONS
|
SGT
|
BOB G JOHNSON
|
LW GUNNER
|
POW
|
6 MISSIONS
|
SGT
|
DONALD H JONES
|
TAIL GUNNER
|
POW
|
6 MISSIONS
|
This plane was last seen in a vertical dive after being attacked by
enemy fighters between Koblenz and Frankfurt. The formation
was attacked and the plane was hit. The pilot feathered engine
#2. The left wing caught on fire, then blew off. The plane left the
formation, sliding right, dropping fast with the fire spreading. The
crew all bailed out. Several crew members got their ears burned
by cannon and machine gun fire. Covill and Atkinson were
severely beaten after being captured and narrowly missed a
hanging by an angry mob. Luckily, all the crew survived and
became POWs.
