“Naughty Nan” · 21 September 1944

2nd Lt. Stanislaus L. Mikolajczyk served as co-pilot of B-24J 42-99949, 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. On 21 September 1944 over Belgium, Mikolajczyk was observing while the pilot flew on instruments. He spotted an aircraft approaching in a right bank at ten o'clock and grabbed the controls in a desperate attempt to pull their ship up and over it. The collision could not be avoided. He managed to escape the stricken aircraft and landed safely, returning to duty (RTD).

Alvin M. KiblerNavigator

2nd Lt. Alvin M. Kibler served as navigator aboard B-24J 42-99949 'Naughty Man', 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Kibler was killed in action on 21 September 1944 during the mid-air collision over Belgium. His remains were identified near the nose section of the crashed aircraft.

Edwin S. StellhornBombardier

2nd Lt. Edwin S. Stellhorn served as bombardier aboard B-24J 42-99949 'Naughty Man', 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Stellhorn was killed in action on 21 September 1944. Following the crash, he was found at the rear escape hatch of the aircraft, indicating he had attempted to bail out.

Cecil D. JohnsonEngineer / Top Turret

S/Sgt. Cecil D. Johnson served as flight engineer aboard B-24J 42-99949, 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. On 21 September 1944, after the collision, Johnson was attempting to force open the bomb bay doors to allow the crew to escape when the pilot came back to assist him. Johnson exited the aircraft following the pilot but was unable to fasten more than one catch on his parachute harness, resulting in a rapid descent. He sustained a broken leg and was hospitalized in Brussels.

Joseph E. BradleyRadio Operator

T/Sgt. Joseph F. Bradley served as radio operator aboard B-24J 42-99949, 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. On 21 September 1944, after the mid-air collision, Bradley observed a large hole in the nose section caused by the impact. He was unable to assess the condition of the nose due to heavy hydraulic fluid escaping, but used that opening to escape the stricken aircraft. He landed approximately 100 yards from the wreckage with only a minor scratch on the forehead.

Oscar BregmanWaist Gunner

S/Sgt. Oscar Bregman served as waist gunner aboard B-24J 42-99949 'Naughty Man', 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Bregman was killed in action on 21 September 1944. Following the crash, he was found at the rear escape hatch of the aircraft alongside the bombardier, indicating he had attempted to bail out.

Eugene CampbellWaist Gunner

Sgt. Eugene B. Campbell was a waist gunner in the 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. He was not a crew member of 42-99949 but witnessed the mid-air collision on 21 September 1944 from his position in another aircraft in the formation. He described observing the aircraft in the 3-2 position flying erratically when clouds were encountered and saw the nose of the 3-2 aircraft knock off the tail assembly of the 3-3 aircraft. Campbell also photographed the formation with a K-20 camera shortly before the accident.

Harry A. MoeWaist Gunner

Sgt. Harry A. Moe, serial number 20953975, is listed in section 12 of MACR 9662 as a witness believed to have had last knowledge of the missing aircraft on 21 September 1944. He was not a crew member of 42-99949.

Merrill J. ConowayTail Gunner

S/Sgt. Terrill J. Conoway (also recorded as Merrill J. Conoway in some documents) served as tail gunner aboard B-24J 42-99949, 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Conoway was killed in action on 21 September 1944 during the mission to Koblenz, Germany. He was found half out of his tail turret after the aircraft crashed following the mid-air collision over Belgium. Post-war records confirm his mission history with the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group.

Lee J. GrafeNose Gunner

S/Sgt. Lee J. Grafe served as nose gunner aboard B-24J 42-99949 'Naughty Man', 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Grafe was killed in action on 21 September 1944 during the mid-air collision over Belgium. His remains were identified near the nose section of the crashed aircraft, the area of primary impact.

The flight.

§ Ship’s Record

The Day

Took off fromHardwick (Sta. 104)

The Record

ResultMissing in Action

Record confidenceValidated against a source

Formation

Flew with328th Squadron

Fuel & Equipment

H2X scope photoNo

The target.

§ As Briefed

Koblenz

As the log wrote itKoblenz

Notes.

§ From the Record

B-24J serial 42-99949, nicknamed 'Naughty Man' (with a Warga Girl drawing on the side), was assigned to the 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, based at Hardwick. On 21 September 1944 the aircraft departed Hardwick on an operational mission to Koblenz, Germany. At approximately 1256 hours, at coordinates 50 53N 03 18E at 16,000 feet over Belgium, the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision while forming up in clouds. The nose section of 42-99949 struck the tail assembly of another B-24 (plane 'C', flying in the 3-3 position). The collision sent 42-99949 into a left bank and then into an unrecoverable spin. Pilot Lt. Johnson was thrown half out of his seat and unable to open the escape hatch. He was flung clear when the forward bomb bay door opened under his weight. The radio operator escaped through a large hole in the nose section. The aircraft crashed and two bombs exploded on the ground. The fuselage from the nose section to the waist windows was completely demolished. Four crew members did not survive: the tail gunner (found half out of his turret), the bombardier, the waist gunner (both found at the rear escape hatch), and the navigator and nose gunner (found near the nose section). The other B-24 involved in the collision (plane 'C') crashed approximately 1/4 mile away. Unmatched crew (not in DB): Johnson Everett (pilot, RTD).

Read the records.

2 documents

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