Date & Time:
May 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-5435
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chelvestson - Chelveston
MSN:
3974
YOM:
1942
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
10
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Chelveston on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Belle-ìle-en-Mer. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Einar H. Suomi, pilot,
1st Lt Erwin R. Schott, copilot,
T/Sgt Fairen R. Sion, flight engineer,
2nd Lt Rene C. Clark, navigator,
T/Sgt Charles B. Hirsch, radio operator,
2nd Lt Clarence W. Gillespie, bombardier,
S/Sgt Warden Cain, air gunner,
Sgt Willis I. Gibson, air gunner,
Sgt Robert Gibson Markli, air gunner,
S/Sgt Richard L. Spelts, air gunner.
Crew:
1st Lt Einar H. Suomi, pilot,
1st Lt Erwin R. Schott, copilot,
T/Sgt Fairen R. Sion, flight engineer,
2nd Lt Rene C. Clark, navigator,
T/Sgt Charles B. Hirsch, radio operator,
2nd Lt Clarence W. Gillespie, bombardier,
S/Sgt Warden Cain, air gunner,
Sgt Willis I. Gibson, air gunner,
Sgt Robert Gibson Markli, air gunner,
S/Sgt Richard L. Spelts, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
