42-106988

Serial number: 42-106988 Enginetype: R-1820-97 with the serial numbers SW 008249 (Engine a), SW 008639 (b), SW 008571 (c) und SW 008332 (d) Installed guns: Browning .50 cal. with the serial numbers 773846(gun a), 773879(b), 1074420(c), 1073680(d), 1074968(e), 1074592 (f), 1074288(g), 1074626(h), 1074951(i), 1074175(j), 1074864(k), 1074999(l) und 1074784(m)

Pilot	1Lt. William E. Waltenmire	captured in Riedlingsdorf 10 May at 11.30
Co-Pilot	2Lt. Morris M. Kirpich	captured in Aschau on 10 May at 14.00
Navigator	2Lt. Irving Baum Jr.	captured Oberschützen 10 May at 11.30
Bombardier	Alfred W. Marshall Jr.	captured in Markt Allhau on 10 May
Engineer	Sgt. Charles F. Forrest	captured in Riedlingsdorf 10 May at 11.35
2nd Engineer	Sgt. Francis W. Foltz	captured (Details unknown)
Radio Op.	Sgt. Frank Juergens	captured in Buchschachen on 11 May in the afternoon
2nd Radio Op.	Sgt. Furman King	KIA, buried in the cemetery of Buchschachen on 12 May
Gunner	Sgt. Boleslaw J. Klocek	KIA, buried in the cemetery of Buchschachen on 12 May
Tail Gunner	Sgt. John W. Humphries	captured (Details unknown)

Two original reports of US Air Force crew members, who had watched the crash of their comrades and told in the debriefing:

"I was flying as tail gunner on ship number 615, piloted by Lt.Col.Barnett, on the mission to Wiener Neustadt on May 10. 1944. Ship No. 988 was flying on our left wing. About five minutes before we reached our I.P. the props on 988s number two engine began windmilling and the ship pulled out of formation. They did not go over the target and were about five thousand feet below us when we came off the target. I saw two figthers making passes at it and the their left wing caught of fire. I saw three chutes open up and the the plane went into a dive and exploded about a thousand feet about ground."
Robert W. Franklin, Sergeant, US Air Force

"I was the tail gunner on 061 on the mission of 10. May 1944 Ship 988 was flying off Col. Barnett's left wing, fell out of formation a couple minutes after I.P. with what looked like #3 engine windmilling. They fell out to tail and charlay on the bomb run, losing altitude first. When flak got really heavy they pulled out and went north of the target. After we dropped bombs and turned off the target, they were west of target headed South. One chute blossomed, then three fighters made a pass and two more chutes blossomed. Then the plane was attacked by two more fighters and #2 engine caught on fire and 988 peeled off as if to start in a dive and then exploded. At the time of the explosion one more chute blossomed, making four that I saw. The had approximately 30 or 36 minutes to clear the airplane from the time they pulled out of the formation until the went down."
Richard O.Westphal, Sergeant, US Air Force