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Missing Air Crew Report
Aircraft #42-78334
I'll Get By - 722nd Squadron
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WAR DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS ARMY AIR FORCES
WASHINGTON
IMPORTANT: This report will
be compiled by each Army Air Forces organization within 48 hours of the
time personnel are officially reported missing.
1. ORGANIZATION:
Location
Manduria, Italy
Command or AF
15 AF
Group
450th Bomardment
Squadron 722nd Bombardment
2. SPECIFY: Point
of Departure Manduria Air
Base, Italy Course
North
Target Schnechat A/D Austria
Type of Mission Combat
3. WEATHER
CONDITIONS AND VISIBILITY AT TIME OF THE CRASH OR WHEN LAST REPORTED:
____________________________________Clear____________________________________________
4. GIVE (a)
Date __26 June 1944______ Time __0956________
Location _48deg 07'N-16deg25'E___
of last know whereabouts of missing aircraft.
(b) Specify whether: (X ) Last sighted
( ) Last contacted by radio
( ) Forced Down ( ) Seen to crash;
or
( ) Information not available.
5. *AIRCRAFT WAS LOST,
OR IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN LOST, AS A RESULT OF: (check
only one)
( ) Enemy Aircraft
( X ) Enemy Anti-Aircraft
( * other circumstances as
follows: __________________________________________________________________________
6. AIRCRAFT: Type,
Model & Series _____B-24G___________ AAF Serial
No __ 42-78334_______
7. ENGINES :
Type, Model & Series ____P&W R-1830______ AAF
Serial No (a)_42-59450______
(b)_CP 302015________ (c) _CP 132787__________
(d) __CP 303399__________
8. INSTALLED WEAPONS:(Furnish
below Make, Type, and Serial Number) All Browing Air-Cooled M-1
(a)
_985468_________________________ (b) __1249360_______(
J ) 985241_______________
(c)
_985890_________________________ (d) __1249386_______(
J ) 1249320______________
(e)
_985690_________________________ (f) ___1249372________________________________
(g)
_985834_________________________ (h) __1249369________________________________
9. PERSONNEL LISTED BELOW
REPORTED AS: ( X ) Battle Casuality ( )
Non-Battle Casuality
10. NUMBER OF PERSONS ABOARD
AIRCRAFT: Crew _10__ Passengers ___0___
Total __10__
(Starting with "Pilot" furnish the following particulars; if more
than 12 persons were aboard list similar
particulars on separate sheet and attach to this form.)
NAME IN FULL
NAME OF KIN, RELATIONSHIP,AND ADDRESS
CREW POSITION
(Last name first)
1. Pilot
Schoeffler, Robert A.
2d Lt. 0-814985 Betty Jane Schoeffler,
wife,
19500 Raymond St., Maple Heights, Bedford, Ohio
2.
CP Follett, Warren S.
2d Lt. 0-820984 Sibyla S. Follett,
mother,
75 Glen Ave., Granston, Rhode Island
3.
N Shull, Ernest R.
2d Lt. 0-708137 Mary LaRue Shull,
wife
503 South St., Altoone, Pennsylvania
4.
B Varabaic, John G.
2d Lt. 0-706885 Matthew F. Karabaic,
father,
2755 Hering Ave., Bronx, New York
5.
E Borgers, John J.
S/Sgt. 32608889 Mary Borgers, mother,
10 Brown Ave., Prospect Park, New Jersey
6.
R Harris, William E., Jr.
S/Sgt. 14119305 Meldra R. Harris, wife,
P. O. Box 31, Dexter, Georgia
7.
G Sartori, Baptista J., Jr.
Sgt. 33669711
Baptista, J. Sartori, Sr., father
Box 227, Blaridge, Pennsylvania
8.
G Rossney, James E.
Sgt. 42020674 Jessie
Rossney, mother
93 Noralk Ave., Buffalo, New York
9. AG
Riley, James H., Jr.
PFC 14064202 Kolita P.
Riley, wife
147 Indian Ave., Wichita, Kansas
10. G
Hrnchar, Daniel
Sgt. 35065999 Christine
Hrnchar, mother
RFD #1, Grafton, Ohio
11. ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________
12. ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________
11. IDENTIFY BELOW THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE LAST
KNOWLEDGE OF
AIRCRAFT AND CHECK APPROPRIATE
(only one) COLUMN TO INDICATE BASIS FOR SALE:
Contacted Last
Saw
NAME IN FULL
RANK SERIAL NO
By Radio Sighted
Crash Forced Landing
1. _Joseph C. Darby_____T/Sgt.___19148243____________________X_________________________
2. _John G. Clark_______T/Sgt.___32488177____________________X_________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________________________
6. _________________________________________________________________________________
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)
Six parachutes seen by eyewitnesses.
13. ATTACH, AS AN INCLOSURE TO THIS REPORT, EITHER AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH,
MAP,
CHART, OR SKETCH, SHOWING APPROXIMATE
LOCATION WHERE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST
SEEN.
14. ATTACH, AS INCLOSURES TO THIS REPORT, EYEWITNESS DISCRIPTION
OF CRASH,
FORCED LANDING, OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES
PERTAINING TO MISSING AIRCRAFT.
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:
(in no search, so stated giving reason)
None
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Date of this Report _29 June 1944__
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H E A D Q U A R T E R S
FOUR FIFTIETH BOMBARDMENT GROUP
(H), AAF
APO FIVE TWO ZERO
US ARMY
30 June 1944
On 26 June,
our group was on a mission to bomb the target at Schnechat, Austria.
I was flying as the right waist gunner in ship #205 in the lead element
of the second attack unit. Lieutenant Schoeffler's aircraft #42-78334,
was in the high right element of the first attack unit. Over the
target area after our formation had dropped the bombs, I saw Lieutenant
Schoeffler's ship leave formation and head in the opposite direction.
The number 4 engine was on fire caused by a flak hit. Soon after
I saw six men bail out at regular interval. When I last saw the ship
it was under control. The altitude was approximately 19,000 feet.
The time was 0956. The coordinates were 48deg07'N-16deg25'E.
T/SGT. Joseph C. Darby
ASN 19148243
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H E A D Q U A R T E R S
FOUR FIFTIETH BOMBARDMENT GROUP
(H), AAF
APO FIVE TWO ZERO
US ARMY
30 June 1944
On 26 June,
our group was on a mission to bomb the target at Schnechat, Austria.
I was flying as the right waist gunner in ship #205 in the lead element
of the second attack unit. Lieutenant Schoeffler's aircraft #42-78334,
was in the high right element of the first attack unit. Over the
target area after our formation had dropped the bombs, I saw Lieutenant
Schoeffler's ship leave formation and head in the opposite direction.
The number 4 engine was on fire caused by a flak hit. Soon after
I saw six men bail out at regular interval. When I last saw the ship
it was under control. The altitude was approximately 19,000 feet.
The time was 0956. The coordinates were 48deg07'N-16deg25'E.
T/SGT. Joseph C. Darby
ASN 19148243
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Sketch showing location where Lt.
Schoeffler's Ship #42-78334 was last seen.
Date: 26 June 1944
Time: 0956
Position: 48 Degrees 7 Minutes
N - 16 Degrees 25 Minutes E
Sketch drawn from 1/500,000
Section Map of Wein
(Map Reproduced by Craig Linn)
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INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONAIRE
Name of crew member:
SCHOEFFLER, ROBERT A.
Rank:
2nd Lt.
Serial Number:
0-814985
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Pilot
Did he bail out?
Yes
Where?
On Hungarian / Yugo Border
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
Gave
us Bail out order.
Was he injured?
NO
Where was he last seen? IN FRANCE AWAITING SHIPMENT
HOME
Any heresay information:
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member:
19
Dates and destinations if possible:
Signed John G. Karabaic
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CASUALTY QUESTIONAIRE
1. Your name
JOHN G. KARABAIC
Rank 2nd Lt.
Serial No. 0-706885
2. Organization 450th
Gp Commander Gideon Rank
COL. Sqn CO McWatter
Rank MAJ
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year
1944
month JUNE
day 26
did you go down?
4. What was the mission, SCHWEICOTT
,target,
,target, ___________
time,
0958
,altitude, 25000
route scheduled, _________________
,route flown _________________________________________________
5. Where were you when you left formation?
20 MINUTES FROM TARGET _______________
6. Did you bail out?
YES _____________________________________________________
7. Did other members of crew bail out?
YES _______________________________________
_______________________________________________
8. Tell all you know about when, where, how each person
in your aircraft for whom no individual questionaire is
attached bailed out. A crew list
is attached. Please give facts. If you don't know, say:
"No Knowledge".
NO CREW LIST ATTACHED.
HOWEVER ALL MEN BAILED OUT IN 10 SECONDS _________
(by the watch) ALL TAKEN
PRISONER. NONE WOUNDED, ALL LIBERATED ______________
APRIL TO MAY 1945 ______________________________________________________________
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground?
About 4 miles from me _____________________________
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 they in the aircraft? ____________________________________________________________
12. What was their condition? ____________________________________________________________
13. When, where, and in what condition did you last seen
any members not already described above?
ALL SEEN IN BUDAPEST PRISON. ENLISTED MEMBERS LAST SEEN LEAVING __
BUDAPEST FOR POW CAMP LATER LIBERATED. ALL OTHER OFFICERS
LIVED ___
WITH ME IN POW CAMP. LAST SEEN IN FRANCE AWAITING SHIPMENT HOME _____
__________________________________________________________________
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)
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INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONAIRE
Name of crew member:
SCHOEFFLER, ROBERT A.
Rank:
2nd Lt.
Serial Number:
0-814985
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Pilot
Did he bail out?
Yes
Where?
About 10-15 miles south of Nagykanisza, Hungary
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
He was attempting to maintain the plane
in level flight until the crew had all bailed out, I shook
hands with him before going into the bomb bay to bail out.
Was he injured?
NO
Where was he last seen? Camp Lucky Strike, France
preparing for return to U.S.A.____________________
Any heresay information: Received a Christmas card from him
and his wife Dec. 1945 from Albany, Ga.______
(address there 219 1st St.) a date after he was liberated from
Prisoner of War Camp Stalag VII A, Germany__
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member:
22 missions (14 sorties)
Dates and destinations if possible: Marselles 27 May 44, Wiener
Neustadt 27 May, Ploesti 31 May_________
Simeria, Romania 2 June, Genoa 4 June, Castel Maggiore 5 June, Ploesti
6 June, Munich 9 June, ___________
Osijek, Yugoslavia 14 June, Bratislavia, Czechoslavia 16 June, Ferrara
22 June, Wiener Neustadt about 23 June
Toulon 25 June, Schwechat 26 June (MIA on last mission)._________________________________________
Signed John G. Karabaic
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CASUALTY QUESTIONAIRE
1. Your name
JOHN G. KARABAIC
Rank 2nd Lt.
Serial No. 0-706885
2. Organization 450th
Gp Commander Gideon Rank
COL. Sqn CO McWatter
Rank MAJ
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year
1944
month JUNE
day 26
did you go down?
4. What was the mission, SCHWEICOTT
,target,
,target, ___________
time,
0958
,altitude, 25000
route scheduled, _________________
,route flown _________________________________________________
5. Where were you when you left formation?
20 MINUTES FROM TARGET _______________
6. Did you bail out?
YES _____________________________________________________
7. Did other members of crew bail out?
YES _______________________________________
_______________________________________________
8. Tell all you know about when, where, how each person
in your aircraft for whom no individual questionaire is
attached bailed out. A crew list
is attached. Please give facts. If you don't know, say:
"No Knowledge".
NO CREW LIST ATTACHED.
HOWEVER ALL MEN BAILED OUT IN 10 SECONDS _________
(by the watch) ALL TAKEN
PRISONER. NONE WOUNDED, ALL LIBERATED ______________
APRIL TO MAY 1945 ______________________________________________________________
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground?
About 4 miles from me _____________________________
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 they in the aircraft? ____________________________________________________________
12. What was their condition? ____________________________________________________________
13. When, where, and in what condition did you last seen
any members not already described above?
ALL SEEN IN BUDAPEST PRISON. ENLISTED MEMBERS LAST SEEN LEAVING __
BUDAPEST FOR POW CAMP LATER LIBERATED. ALL OTHER OFFICERS
LIVED ___
WITH ME IN POW CAMP. LAST SEEN IN FRANCE AWAITING SHIPMENT HOME _____
__________________________________________________________________
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 below)
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CASUALTY QUESTIONAIRE
1. Your name
Shull, Ernest R.
Rank 1st Lt.
Serial No. 0-708137
2. Organization 450th B.
Gp Commander Mills Rank COL.
Sqn CO McWhorter Rank
MAJ
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year
1944
month JUNE
day 26
did you go down?
4. What was the mission, SCHWECHAT,Austria
,target, Heinkle A/C Factory
,target, ___________
time, about 0930
,altitude, about 21000
route scheduled, Italy to Yugoslavia__
to L. Balalam to Papa to I.P.,
route flown _flew as briefed__ _______________________________
5. Where were you when you left formation?
In Vicinity at Nagyhanisza, Hungary______________
6. Did you bail out?
YES _____________________________________________________
7. Did other members of crew bail out?
All bailed out._________________________________
_______________________________________________
8. Tell all you know about when, where, how each person
in your aircraft for whom no individual questionaire is
attached bailed out. A crew list
is attached. Please give facts. If you don't know, say:
"No Knowledge".
(Pilot Schoeffler, last to bail out
around 1005A.M. thru bombay.) Bombardier Karabaic, Nav. Shull______
,Engineer Borgers, Arm. Gunner Riley,
Copilot Follett about 1000 A.M. thru bombay rather close to each__
other, R/O Harris, Ass. R/O Rossney,
Ass. Eng. Sartori, Cat. Gunner Hrnchar about 1000 A.M. thru ____
camera hatch, rather close to each
other.___________________________________________________
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground? West of
a small town about 10-15 miles south of Nagyhanisza.__
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 they in the aircraft? ____________________________________________________________
12. What was their condition? ____________________________________________________________
13. When, where, and in what condition did you last seen
any members not already described 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)
The entire crew except Lt. Schoeffler (pilot) were assembled as captured
enemy personnel by the Hungarians in the small town near where the plane
crashed, then later that day (26 June) to a town east or north-east of
scene of the crash because of mob tendencies of the townspeople.
The following day the nine were moved to Budapest to the Nat'l prison.
Lt. Schoeffler was joined with them eight or ten days later. The
enlisted men were moved to a P.O.W. camp in Germany (learned later that
it was near Stettin) abou that time we four officers were moved to Stalag
Luft 3, Sagan, Germany four days later. Moved out of there 27 Jan,
1945 to Stalag 7A, Moosberg, Bavaria and liberated at this camp 29 April
1945. Were then moved to Camp Lucky Strike, France for transportation
to the Z.I. Here Air Liaison had informed about one enlisted man,
Sartori. The other officers were contacted upon arrival in the states.
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INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONAIRE
Name of crew member:
SCHOEFFLER, ROBERT A.
Rank:
2nd Lt.
Serial Number:
0-814985
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Pilot
Did he bail out?
Yes _____________________________________________________________
Where?
Over Southern Hungary_____________________________________________________
If not, why not? _______________________________________________________________________
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Was he injured?
NO
_______________________
Where was he last seen? In Para Chute. - I then
saw him in Budapest Hungary and spoke to him in Solitary._
Any heresay information: He went to officers prison camp
and I saw him last at La Havre, France (Camp Lucky
Strike) after the war.____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Source: _____________________________________________________________________________
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
_________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Total number of missions of above crew member:
Twenty Two________________________________
Dates and destinations if possible: Can not remember
all dates.____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Author Unknown.
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CASUALTY QUESTIONAIRE
1. Your name
Baptista J. Sartori Jr.
Rank S/Sgt.
Serial No. 33669011
2. Organization 450___
Gp Commander Mills Rank Col
. Sqn CO McWhorter
Rank MAJ
(full name)
(full name)
3. What year
1944
month JUNE
day 26
did you go down?
4. What was the mission, ____Vienna_____
,target, ______ Oil Refinery______
,target, ____________
time, 10:30____
,altitude, ____29000
route scheduled, _________________
_______________________
route flown ______________ _______________________________
5. Where were you when you left formation?
Over Yugoslavia_____________________________
6. Did you bail out?
YES _____________________________________________________
7. Did other members of crew bail out?
Yes ________________________________________
_______________________________________________
8. Tell all you know about when, where, how each person
in your aircraft for whom no individual questionaire is
attached bailed out. A crew list
is attached. Please give facts. If you don't know, say:
"No Knowledge".
The whole crew bailed out right after
I did and was all captured. The enlisted men were all with me at_____
Stalag 4___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
9. Where did your aircraft strike the ground?
Unknown__________ _____________________________
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 they in the aircraft? ____________________________________________________________
12. What was their condition? ____________________________________________________________
13. When, where, and in what condition did you last seen
any members not already described above?
I saw my tail gunner, nose gunner, Co-pilot and Pilot in France after the
war was over._____ __
_______________________________________________________________________
___
_______________________________________________________________________
_____
__________________________________________________________________
14. Please give any similar information on personnel of any other
crew of which you have knowledge.
Indicate source of information.
___________I met all my crew_________________________________
except my pilot when
I went down that day about an hour after I was captured, excepting for
my navigators
sprained ankle and my
hurt from the lower chute straps, eveyrone was alright.______________________
I met my pilot at Budapest
Prison two days before we left._____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
(Any additional information may be written on the back)
I was with the enlisted men in Stalag Luft 4 until Feb 6, 1945, I later
met my Pilot, Co-pilot, my tail gunner and armorer in france after our
Liberation of Stalag Luft I. I met my Co-pilot in Atlantic City.
And since then I got cards from all except my armor gunner and Bombardier.
I had also my watch and ring take from me at Budapest Prison worth in
all (twenty dollars). $20.00) My crew can verify this. |
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INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONAIRE
Name of crew member:
SCHOEFFLER, ROBERT A.
Rank:
2nd Lt.
Serial Number:
0-814985
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Pilot
Did he bail out?
Yes ______________________________________________________________
Where?
In Hungary, SE of Vienna, almost to Yugoslav border ( app 15 miles)____________________
If not, why not? ________________________________________________________________________
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
___Last conversation consisted of ______
Schoeffler's order for the crew to bail out at app.
7000 feet.______________________________________
Was he injured?
No.________________________
Where was he last seen? I last saw Schoeffler in
Camp Lucky Strike, France_________________________
Any heresay information: At Lucky Strike I also met John
Sartori, our waist gunner, who had been interned___
with the other enlisted men of our crew, and he reported all
of them in satisfactory health when last seen by ___
him, possibly a month before | |
