“989-V”

On September 11, 1944, thirty-seven Circus B-24s went out against the oil refinery at Magdeburg. Captain Louis Novotny's 989-V took a direct flak hit over the target while carrying Major George O. McCafferty, the 328th's commanding officer, who was serving as formation commander that day. Thirteen men were listed on the ship's manifest, but observers counted only seven or eight parachutes. Captain William M. Bryan, flying in a nearby aircraft, witnessed the loss.

Of the crew, navigator James M. Harrison and bombardier David Yaus were killed; the remaining men, including Novotny and McCafferty, were taken prisoner and eventually returned home.