Date & Time:
Feb 4, 1943 at 1127 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-24589
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn
MSN:
3274
YOM:
1942
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
2
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bassingbourn on an operation to Hamm. Cloud cover over the target area prevented bombing of the primary target at Hamm and the formation diverted to the industrial area of Emden, Germany. Over the target area, it was hit by the German Flak and while returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter. The pilot made an emergency landing on a beach at Terschelling Island. Two crew members were killed and eight others became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt E. B. Ellis, pilot,
2nd Lt K. H. Futch, copilot,
T/Sgt R. E. Demars, flight engineer,
1st Lt H. M. Dunham, navigator,
T/Sgt Michael T. La Medica, radio operator, †
1st Lt Marvin H. Beiseker Jr., bombardier, †
S/Sgt W. E. Howard, air gunner,
Sgt J. L. Mastroberardino, air gunner,
S/Sgt N. L. Floyd, air gunner,
S/Sgt A. Gaeta, air gunner.
Crew:
1st Lt E. B. Ellis, pilot,
2nd Lt K. H. Futch, copilot,
T/Sgt R. E. Demars, flight engineer,
1st Lt H. M. Dunham, navigator,
T/Sgt Michael T. La Medica, radio operator, †
1st Lt Marvin H. Beiseker Jr., bombardier, †
S/Sgt W. E. Howard, air gunner,
Sgt J. L. Mastroberardino, air gunner,
S/Sgt N. L. Floyd, air gunner,
S/Sgt A. Gaeta, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
