Sortie2BDMissing in Action

Unidentified ship.Over Ploesti.

Mission 115 · 01 August 1943

Aboard
8
men

The crew.

§ 8 aboard

In their own words.

§ 8 entries

1st Lt. Victor E. Olliffe was the pilot of the aircraft lost over Serbia on August 1, 1943, during the Ploesti mission. His serial number was recorded as 0731644. According to S/Sgt. Murray, mountain police in Serbia reported that the rest of the crew — including the pilot — was killed in the crash. Olliffe did not bail out with the three surviving enlisted gunners. He was listed as killed in action.

2nd Lt. Claude H. Ipher served as co-pilot on the aircraft downed over Serbia on August 1, 1943. His serial number was 0736224. He was listed as MIA in official records at the time of the mission. S/Sgt. Murray reported that Serbian mountain police informed him after his capture that the rest of the crew was killed. Ipher did not bail out and was killed in the crash.

John D. CrimminsRadio Operator

S/Sgt. John D. Crimmins served as radio operator on the aircraft lost over Serbia on August 1, 1943. His serial number was 34167065. He was listed as MIA following the Ploesti mission. Crimmins did not bail out with the three surviving gunners and was reported killed in the crash by Serbian mountain police who informed S/Sgt. Murray after his capture.

Harold R. MurrayBall Turret Gunner

S/Sgt. Harold R. Murray, born January 4, 1920, served as ball turret gunner on his 13th mission when his aircraft was shot down over Serbia during the August 1, 1943 Ploesti mission. He bailed out when the plane went out of control, his parachute opening just above the treetops. He sustained deep cuts on his nose and above his eyes. Murray used his aids box items including chocolate while hiding on the mountainside, chewing gum, and his water bottle during his march. He used his compass during a later attempted escape. He hid his map from his survival purse when he realized capture was imminent; all his money was taken from him by captors. Murray was eventually captured by mountain police in Serbia, who told him the rest of his crew had been killed in the crash. He was held as a POW, during which time he used his sewing kit. He signed a security certificate at Cairo, Egypt on September 16, 1944, and returned to UK on October 12, 1944. He had previously been interrogated by 15th Air Force G-2 and submitted a written report to G-2 Italy. Murray had been trained in escape and evasion at all phases of training and at Hethel Field, England by S-2 officers. His advice for future evaders: move at least half a mile from the landing point and then hide out for two or three days if possible. He had identity papers (dog tags) but no foreign currency. He did not speak French, Spanish, German, Italian, or any other foreign language.

Eugene W. EngdahlWaist Gunner

S/Sgt. Eugene W. Engdahl (OCR rendered as 'Engdanl' on the questionnaire) served as waist gunner and was one of only three crew members to bail out successfully from the stricken aircraft over Serbia on August 1, 1943. His parachute opened successfully. S/Sgt. Murray confirmed seeing Engdahl alive after reaching the ground. The partial serial number recorded on the questionnaire appears to be '2451' — likely an incomplete entry. His ultimate fate and return status are not fully detailed in this report, though his listing without a KIA notation alongside the surviving gunners suggests he may have also evaded or returned.

Clifford E. KoenWaist Gunner

S/Sgt. Clifford E. Koen served as waist gunner and was one of three crew members to bail out successfully from the aircraft over Serbia on August 1, 1943. His parachute opened successfully. No serial number was recorded for Koen in this report. His listing alongside Murray and Engdahl as one of the three bailout survivors, without a KIA notation, indicates he survived the bailout. His subsequent fate is not detailed further in this E&E report.

Edgar J. PearsonTail Gunner

S/Sgt. Edgar J. Pearson served as tail gunner on the aircraft lost over Serbia on August 1, 1943. His serial number was 32356111. He was listed as MIA following the Ploesti mission. Pearson did not bail out with the three surviving gunners and was reported killed in the crash by Serbian mountain police who informed S/Sgt. Murray after his capture.

Edward J. HallerTop Turret Gunner

S/Sgt. Edward J. Haller served as top turret gunner on the aircraft lost over Serbia on August 1, 1943. His serial number was 39090167. He was listed as MIA following the Ploesti mission. Haller did not bail out with the three surviving gunners and was reported killed in the crash by Serbian mountain police who informed S/Sgt. Murray after his capture.

The flight.

§ Ship’s Record
The Day
Took off fromBenghazi (Benina Main)
The Record
ResultMissing in Action
Record confidenceValidated against a source
Fuel & Equipment
H2X scope photoNo

The target.

§ As Briefed
Ploesti
As the log wrote itPloesti

Notes.

§ From the Record
The aircraft was lost on August 1, 1943, during the low-level Ploesti mission (Operation Tidal Wave), departing Benghazi at 7:30 AM. The plane sustained catastrophic damage, with the left wing torn off and engines No. 1 and 2 knocked out, leaving it out of control. The plane crashed on a mountainside in Serbia at approximately 4:45 AM (likely local time after a long flight) and was burning fiercely upon impact. Only three enlisted gunners successfully bailed out; the mountain police informed S/Sgt. Murray after his capture that the rest of the crew had been killed. Murray examined the wreckage and confirmed the aircraft was destroyed on the mountainside. The plane did not explode on striking the ground, though it burned fiercely. All parachutes of the three survivors opened successfully; Murray's chute opened just above the treetops.

Read the records.

1 document

Original documents behind what this page says about this sortie — reports, records, and histories the archive holds and is free to reproduce. Check the sources for yourself.

Supports 1 fact

Escape and Evasion Report 2444

Military Record · United States Army Air Forces · 1943 · Escape and Evasion Reports

Sources.

§ Provenance
United States Army Air Forces · National Archives and Records Administration · 1943
Official record
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