42-7519

B-24 serial number 42-7519 was assigned to the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. On 7 January 1944, the aircraft departed AAF 104 on a combat mission to Ludwigshafen, Germany.

During the mission, the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters. No. 3 engine caught fire, Nos. 2 and 4 were feathered, and No. 1 went out of control. Co-pilot 2nd Lt. Edward C. Miller reported bailing out at approximately 13,000 feet, at around 1330 hours, between Paris and Melun (near St. Assisse).

A cipher message received after the loss stated that an aircraft of the 93rd Bombardment Group, 328th Bombardment Squadron had landed in Switzerland. The intelligence officer's eyewitness report notes this was likely 42-7519, though confirmation was pending at the time of the report. Seven parachutes were counted by French helpers on the ground.

Hearsay information from French sources indicated that crew members Stearns, Varbese, and Wahrheit were believed killed, while Carnahan and Long were captured. Miller also reported hearing that ground troops had fired on some men after bailout.

A squadron eyewitness reported observing the aircraft, piloted that day by Lieutenant David W. Richardson, with a feathered propeller and apparently already turning toward Switzerland in the moments before contact was lost.

Swiss Internment Record

The Adrian Streather list of aircraft interned in Switzerland confirms that 42-7519 landed at Dübendorf, Switzerland on 7 January 1944, assigned to 93rd Bomb Group / 328th Bomb Squadron. The aircraft was returned to Allied control on 8 October 1945.