Supports 1 fact
Missing Air Crew Report 13846
Military Record · United States Army Air Forces · 1945 · Missing Air Crew Reports
Sortie2ADB-24Missing in Action
44-50697.Over Bayreuth.
Mission 928 · 05 April 1945
Serial
44-50697
B-24M
Fuselage Code
GO
Squadron
328th
Ted's Traveling Circus
Aboard
9
men
The crew.
§ 9 aboard
Name
Position
Serial
Hometown
On this flight
James B. Sample
Pilot
Station 1
O-720576
Route 20 477-A, Indianapolis, Indiana
Missing in action
Returned
→
2LtMurray F. Houseman
Co-Pilot
Station 2
O-929406
Rt Two, Dayland, Michigan
Missing in action
Returned
→
2LtStanley E. Renk
Navigator
Station 3
O-2071696
3 Carman Avenue, Yardville, New Jersey
Killed in action
Returned
→
S/SgtJames R. Hickey
Engineer / Top Turret
Station 5
12177551
1834 125th Street, College Point, New York
Killed in action
Returned
→
S/SgtRobert L. Galbraith
Radio Operator
Station 6
17182000
Kellerton, Iowa
Missing in action
Returned
→
SgtPaul W. Kleyman
Waist Gunner
Station 8
35228524
470 Jefferson Street, Bellaire, Ohio
Killed in action
Returned
→
Richard M. Sandberg
Waist Gunner
Station 8
36774915
405 14th Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois
Missing in action
Returned
→
SgtJames W. Gibson
Nose Gunner
38569609
Box 592, Wynnewood, Oklahoma
Killed in action
Returned
→
SgtJoseph P. Piazza
Tail Gunner
Station 9
19090232
346 Degier Avenue, San Leandro, California
Missing in action
Returned
→
In their own words.
§ 9 entries
James B. SamplePilot
2nd Lt James B. Sample served as pilot of B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945. Next of kin: Mr. Palmer C. Sample (Father), Route 20 477-A, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Murray F. HousemanCo-Pilot
2nd Lt Murray F. Houseman served as co-pilot of B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945. Next of kin: Mrs. Grace K. Houseman (Mother), Rt Two, Dayland, Michigan.
Stanley E. RenkNavigator
2nd Lt Stanley E. Renk served as navigator/bombardier of B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. His surname appears as 'Bank' on the MACR form due to an OCR/transcription error; confirmed as 'Renk' from the next-of-kin list. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945.
James R. HickeyEngineer / Top Turret
S/Sgt James R. Hickey served as engineer aboard B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945.
Robert L. GalbraithRadio Operator
S/Sgt Robert L. Galbraith served as radio operator aboard B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945.
Paul W. KleymanWaist Gunner
Sgt Paul W. Kleyman served as left waist gunner aboard B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945.
Richard M. SandbergWaist Gunner
Sgt Richard M. Sandberg served as starboard waist gunner aboard B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945.
James W. GibsonNose Gunner
Sgt James W. Gibson served as nose gunner aboard B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945.
Joseph P. PiazzaTail Gunner
Sgt Joseph P. Piazza served as tail gunner aboard B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. His surname appears as 'Plazza' on the MACR form; confirmed as 'Piazza' from the next-of-kin list. Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945.
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
Bayreuth
As the log wrote itBayreuth
Notes.
§ From the Record
B-24M serial 44-50697, assigned to the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, departed Hardwick on 5 April 1945 on a bombing mission to Bayreuth. Eyewitness F/O John H. Van Zandt, flying as co-pilot in ship 157-L of the same squadron, observed the aircraft crossing the Dutch coast at approximately 400–600 feet altitude on the return leg. The aircraft was being engaged by 20mm and 40mm flak fire. The aircraft initiated a steep bank to the left, apparently attempting to evade the fire. Van Zandt's engineer, S/Sgt Ernest H. Fleming, reported that the plane completed a 180-degree turn and was observed inverted at the end of the maneuver. Last known position was 5130N 0330E at 1204 hours. Nine crew members were aboard; all were reported Missing in Action as of the date of the report, 9 April 1945.
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Sources.
§ Provenance
United States Army Air Forces · National Archives and Records Administration · 1945
Official record