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Missing Planes of the 452nd Bomb Group

by Edward Hinrichs

219 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-1148; ISBN 1-4120-3321-7; US$24.95, C$32.00, EUR20.80, £14.41

This book documents every plane that went down during WWII of the 452nd Bomb Group. It has the name, rank, crew position and stature of each person at the time the plane went down.

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about the book      about the author      excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book This 250-page book is packed with details about the missions of the Eighth Air Force's 452nd Bomb Group. It lists every crew that was lost. Itemized accounts for each mission include: All crew members: - rank - position - the fate of each member The plane's number The plane's name The MACR number The mission date The target name The reason for being Missing In Action Plus details on each mission, including anecdotes from the members who flew them!

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About the Author Edward Hinrichs was born May 23, 1922. He was the fourth child of a family of nine children. His parents were of German descent. His father was a blacksmith who took great pride in the fact that, during the great depression; he was able to provide his family with food and shelter without any outside assistance. Ed Hinrichs enlisted in the Army Air Force on August 26, 1942. He was 20 years old at the time. Ed was trained at the Army Air Force School in Amarillo, Texas as a Flight Engineer for a B-17. He was then assigned to a crew at Ardmore, Oklahoma after a few months of training. His crew flew a B-17 to England. Ed was then assigned to the 8th Air Force, 45th Combat Wing, 452nd bomb group and 728th Squadron. Ed flew 30 combat missions, 17 missions of these in a lead plane over Europe. Ed received the Air Medal and 4 Oak Leave Clusters, the Presidential Citation that was awarded to the 452nd Bomb Group for the April 7 mission. Ed also received three battle stars. He returned to the United States in July 1945. Ed was discharged from the service October 19, 1945. On a more personal note, Ed met his wife-to-be in the spring of 1941. They decided to wait for a wedding until after the war. Ed was sent to England. His future bride was sent to the South Pacific, as 2nd Lieutenant nurse, on the hospital ship USS Hope. Their mission was to return the wounded and sick back to the United States. She was discharged in May of 1946. The two were married on June 8, 1946. They had four daughters. He was in commercial construction as a superintendent most of his working life. Ed retired in October, 1980. It was at this time he started to write the book MISSING PLANES. His wife was his typist, proofreader, spelling and grammar checker. After a long illness she died in April 1997, at the age of 74. During his research, Ed was very fortunate to link up with Mr. John A. hey from Holland. Mr. Hey was researching all missing 8th Air Force aircraft for the Liberation Museum there. Ed and Mr Hey have been exchanging international information since 1994. ("This research is an unending job," says Ed). When asked why he began the Missing Planes project, Ed Hinrichs explained: I always wanted to write. I was very interested in history. I had four uncles who served in the Civil War. I had reserached their records and was surprised that the stories I had heard did not match the records I received from the National Archives. I realized how much a story can change as it passes from one person to another. I flew 30 combat missions over Germany in World War II. At the time, I saw no need to keep any records. After all, we were all young and eager to fly. We did realize the danger, but always flet that if someone were to die, it would be someone else. It was only after I had completed my tour of duty that I started to realize how lucky I was. And this never fully registered until I had returned to my home after the war. I was like a young kid with unlimited supply of his favorite ice cream. I was so happy that I must have appeared to many people like a damned fool. I would be driving my car, and as I would pass a person walking, I would yell a warm greeting of the day. They would look at me in a puzzled matter and all they would see was a young man with a big smile. I really was free--no more missions to fly! Years later, people asked me if I had flown any missions to certain German towns (and when). I could only answer that I probably did but was not sure. This brought me back to the records that had been kept on my relatives during the Civil War. I was sure I could do better than that. I did not know it would take years before I could say that I knew what happened to every man in my Bomb Group who was lost. I began th project by finding records that would show the dates I flew and the targets bombed. After much letter writing, I finally got a certified copy of the dates and targets--and a big plus--the days I had flown in the lead plane of the Group. I took this to a reunion of our Bomb Group. I was surprised at the number of men who wanted a copy of these records. Each mission I had flown by close to 300 other men. I bought reels of microfilms from Maxwell Air Force Historical Research Center. On these sets of films are listed the dates of planes that were lost, and other pertinent information. I also bought microfiches of the Missing AirCraft Records. (The government has a MACR for every plane lost.) From these recrods I began to write the book. The original book was revised over the years as more information became available.

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Excerpts

February 5 - April 6, 1944

Plane # 42-31338, MACR 2540, ''Hard To Get'', Fighters, Crashed near Kemmel, Belgium

2nd/Lt. Kenneth D. Smith Pilot POW

2nd/Lt. Robert R. Nixon Co-pilot POW

2nd/Lt. John L. Nightingale Navigator KIA

2nd/Lt. William M. Doyle Bombardier KIA

T/Sgt. Charles W. Hacic Engineer POW

S/Sgt. Roy E. Morris Radioman KIA

S/Sgt. Floyd E. Holman W. gunner POW

Sgt. Russell C. Moss W. gunner POW

S/Sgt. Harvey H. Fleming B. T. gunner POW

Sgt. Kenneth M. Burns Tail gunner POW

From J. A. Hey: [This plane was shot down by German fighters. No. 1 and 2 engines were hit and set afire, causing a runaway prop at 24,000 feet. Supercharges also knocked out. Crew bailed out and captured near Kemme. The B-17 crashed 2 km N. of Kemme or 8 km of Hildesheim Germany. The KIA were buried in the cemetery of Kemme. After the war reinterred in Ardennes but they could not be individually identified and received a Group Burial In Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois.]

Plane # 42-37950, MACR 2538, ''Dynah Might'', Was shot down by fighters. Crashed near Leuarden Landed in the Zuider Zee, Netherlands, was recovered years later when part of the Zuider Zee was recovered.

2nd/Lt. Thomas F. Sharpless Pilot POW

2nd/Lt. Clyde V. Cassill Copilot POW

2nd/Lt. John J. Lyons Navigator RTD

2nd/Lt. August J. Flieshbein Bombardier POW

T/Sgt. Lawrence S. Moses Engineer POW

S/Sgt. John W. Mosreller Radioman POW

S/Sgt. Hershel Shaw W. Gunner POW

Sgt. David Fineman W. Gunner POW

S/Sgt. Freeman H. Fisher B. T. Gunner POW

Sgt. Leslie Tiedman Tail Gunner POW

From J. A. Hey: [The aircraft was damaged during attacks of German fighters. The Pilot ordered all the crewmen to bail out, and he made an emergency landing in the Noord-Oost Polder, Holland. Cassill bailed out over Ossenzijl. Lyons bailed and escaped to Belgium, and returned to England via Spain.Fleischein bailed out over Ossenzijl and escaped to Belgium However he was arrested in Namur, Belgium on July 5, 1944. Fischer also bailed out over Ossenzijl, broke a leg and became a prisoner. Mosteller, Moses, Shaw, Fineman and Tiedman bailed out over Hoogeveen and were taken prisoners.]

Chapter 4 Mission 76 - 100
Plane # 42-31934 ''Marie Helena'', MACR not listed Landed Normandy Beach, France

2nd/Lt. Robert H. Smith Pilot RTD

2nd/Lt. Joseph F. Beauregard Co-pilot KIA

2nd/Lt. John E. Thomsen Navigator KIA

2nd/Lt. John Morales Bombardier RTD

T/Sgt. Wilfrid H. Munningham Engineer RTD

Sgt. Everett L. O*Malley R. W. Gunner RTD

S/Sgt. John L. Kayes Radioman RTD

Sgt. Donald R. Tucker L. W. Gunner RTD

Sgt. Jack S. Lodwig B. T. Gunner RTD

Sgt. William M. Lorig Tail Gunner RTD

The following story was sent by John L. Kayes to me on April 23, 1994. He also sent this clipping from the Stars and Stripes (this was an U.S. military newspaper) of September 14, 1944, the story of this plane: With the Navigator and the Copilot dead, and the Pilot, Bombardier and Radioman injured, two engines out, and the radio system knocked out, the B-17 *Marie Helena* almost landed at a German airdrome before finally coming down on a U.S. fighter strip in France. The bomber, piloted by 2nd/Lt. Robert H. Smith, of Grantview, Washington was ripped by four flak bursts.

Escorting P-47s dipped and wobbled their wings. ''I thought those acrobatics were landing instructions to me'', Smith related. ''But suddenly, a barrage of flak, machine-gun and small arms exploded around us. Then I realized our 'guardian angles' had been trying to warn us away from a Nazi airdrome.''

John Kayes said that he and the Engineer were sent to a hospital in England. After being discharged from the hospital, he was sent to a ''Flak Home'' (rest home) and transferred to the 94th Bomb Group at Bury St. Edmunds. He was trained as a RCM operator. On a mission of October 6, 1994, the plane was shot down, but he and three others bailed out. The rest of the crewmembers were killed. He was captured and was a POW till the end of the War.

July 10, 1944 Practive Mission

Plane 43-37631 was taxiing when brakes failed and collided with parked 41-9019. Damage to plane Crew safe.

July 11, 1944 Munich Mission #94

No planes reported missing on this date

Chapter 6 Mission 126 - 150

The plane lost 3 engines. The Pilot made an emergency landing near the road Venray-Castenraij, +/- 20 km NW of Venlo, Holland. The Germans reported that it was set afire, presumably by the crew.
Plane # 43-37878 is listed as missing

Oct. 6, 1944 Berlin Mission #145

Big B here we come again, bombs and all. The 452nd has put up 38 aircraft, making up the lead, high and low in the 45th Combat Wing. The primary target being the Aero engine plant in the Spandon Region of Berlin, 8 miles west of the center of the city. This is the largest Aero engine factory of the B.M.W. concern and to date has not been damaged. Reconnaissance photos show good results from our bombing with several strikes close to the Mean Point of Impact. However the low Group*s bombs fell 5 1/2 miles west of the target.

Flak over Bremersshaven and Cuxhaven was tracking, meager and inaccurate, but 25 of our aircraft still received minor damage and 6 received major damage. No enemy aircraft were encountered and all our aircraft returned, the first touching down at 1507 hours.

Plane #43-37802 ''My-ASSIS-Dragon'' Squadron 728
S/Sgt. Lee R. Kennedy Waist gunner KIA Buried in Cambridge.

Oct. 7, 1944 Lutzkendorf Mission #146

The A Group, consisting of 16 A/C took off at 0650 hours and formed at 18,000 feet, following briefed course to the secondary target at Nordhausen, an air depot, which has been active in developing of pic-aback aircraft. 12 A/C of the A group attacked the primary target which was the oil refinery at Lutzkendorf with good results with approximately 38% of its bombs hitting within 1,000 feet if the MPI. Flak over the target was accurate and moderate and over Osnabruck flak was tracking and meager. 19 A/C received major damage, wounding 2 crewmen. No enemy fighters attacked but were reported in the area. Our fighter escort was good and took care of the enemy fighters. English coast was crossed at 1441 hours at 5,300 feet, landing at 1509 hour.
Capt. Richard R. Frillman Navigator KIA

December 12, 1944 - February 15, 1945
glide on the way down and aircraft # 44-8602 was smoking with # 2 engine out. The fate of these aircraft is not known but they are believed to have made it to Sweden.

Hamburg had suffered the first firestorm of the war. The RAF bombed the city on the night of July 24/25, 1943 with 800 Lancasters, Halifaxes and Wellingtons. The Eighth Air Force bombed on July 25 and 26. The RAF bombed again on the night of July 27/28 with 787 bombers. This caused the firestorm that killed 50,000 persons; where as all the German bombing in the war on England killed 51,509.
Plane # 42-102397, MACR 11794, ''C'est La Guerre'', Flew # 6 in Lead Squadron 730, Flak, Crashed near Guderott Germany

2nd/Lt. Maylan Skoglund Pilot POW 9 missions

2nd/LT. Donald Horning Copilot POW 8 missions

2nd/Lt. John Samos Navigator POW 9 missions

2nd/Lt. LeRoy Krug Bombardier POW 10 missions

S/Sgt. Anthony Buterol Radioman POW 8 missions

S/Sgt. Arvin Halbach B. T. Gunner POW 8 missions

S/Sgt. Jay Losselyong Engineer POW 8 missions

S/Sgt. Edward Verga Tail gunner POW 7 missions

S/Sgt. Donald Newman W. Gunner POW 8 missions

From J. A. Hey: [Flak hits damaged the #1 and #2 engines, the props were feathered. The Pilot headed in a NE directions towards Sweden, but had to make an emergency landing near Guderott near Suderbrarup, 10 km SW of Kappeln/Holstein.]
Plane #44-8602, MACR 11728, Flew # 3 in Lead Squadron 731, Flak, Landed at Bulltofta Sweden

1st/Lt. Ira F. Smith Pilot INT 25 missions

2nd/Lt. Robert D. Wilcox Copilot INT 0 missions

2nd/Lt. William. D. Nicholson Navigator INT 15 missions

T/Sgt. Howard E. Simon Bombardier INT 6 missions

T/Sgt. Robert C. Scott Radioman INT 23 missions

S/Sgt. Haskell L. Ray B. T. Gunner INT 8 missions

T/Sgt. Harold F. Huffman Engineer INT 24 missions

S/Sgt. William H. Everly Tail Gunner INT 9 missions

S/Sgt. Julian E. Anderson W. Gunner INT 9 missions

From J. A. Hey [Evaded to Sweden and landed at Bulltofta Airfield. The B-17 was damaged over the target to such an extent that it could not make it safely to allied lines.]

Aircraft # 44-8602 was seen under control and in a straight glide right after the target; # 3 engine was smoking. The tail gunner on one crew reported that the two aircraft that left the low squadron were following the formation several miles behind but where still visible as far as the coast out. Other crews reported three B-17s believed from this Bomb Group seen straggling behind enroute out. If this is correct, then...

Chapter 9 Mission 201 - 225

Credit given for 12 sorties

For the operation Officer:

William P Mitleton

Major; Air Corps Leader

''A'' Squadron Leader
Plane # 44-8015, MACR 12657, ''Johnny Reb'', Flew # 3 in Low Squadron 731, Flak, Crashed at Pfaffenhofen Germany

2nd/Lt. William T. Emmet II Pilot KIA 4 missions

2nd/Lt. William F. Hoffman Copilot KIA 3 missions

F/O Clinton W. Ewen Navigator KIA 3 missions

S/Sgt. William M. Lorig Radar POW 20 missions

Sgt. Warren L. Holt Bombardier KIA 3 missions

Sgt. George J. Benedict Radioman KIA 3 missions

Sgt. James E. Moss B. T. Gunner POW 3 missions

Sgt. Sidney Mason Engineer KIA 3 missions

Sgt. Deane P. Clementson Tail gunner KIA 3 missions

Sgt. Francis G. Adkins W. Gunner POW 3 missions

From J. A. Hey: The aircraft exploded in mid-air, disintegrated and spun down at Pfaffenhofen, Germany. Some of the crew bailed out or were thrown clear in the explosion; the others were trapped inside the aircraft by centrifugal forces. Sgt. Moss, Adkins and Lorig were POW. The remainder of the crew were killed. Reinterred in Lorraine, and later Sgt. Holt and Benedict were buried in U.S.A.

From a letter I received from Jerry Adkins on Aug. 16, 1989: He wrote:

Our B-17 didn*t make it to the target. We were descending from 25,000 feet and hit heavy white clouds at 19,000 feet, so thick that we couldn*t see the other planes in our formation. At about 17,000 feet, I think we got in prop wash from the ship in front of us. Our pilot had let the landing flaps down and throttled down to nearly stalling speed. We broke in half. Three of us were able to parachute to safety and the rest of the crew (7) were killed.

From talking to Jerry, I learned that the other two survivors were, William Lorig and James Moss.
Plane # 614

T/Sgt. Lewis Pena Bombardier wounded.

Feb. 23, 1945 Ansback Mission #207

No planes reported missing on this date.

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