Sortie2BDB-24Missing in Action

Unidentified ship.Over Frankfurt.

Mission 244 · 02 March 1944

Aboard
10
men

The crew.

§ 10 aboard

In their own words.

§ 10 entries

2d Lt. Charles W. Mankin Jr. was the pilot of the aircraft on the 2 March 1944 Frankfurt mission. When flak set the plane on fire over France, Mankin requested a course home and eventually gave the order to bail out after losing approximately 4,000 feet of altitude. According to the narrator's E&E report, Mankin was killed — his parachute did not open. His official disposition is listed as dead.

2d Lt. Melvin L. Heinke was the co-pilot. He bailed out following the flak damage on 2 March 1944. Shortly after landing, narrator Carpenter was informed by his French helpers that his co-pilot was safe and in the hands of a friend, reportedly en route to Calais. The crew roster lists Heinke's disposition as MIA with a cross-reference to E&E No. 332, indicating he successfully evaded and filed his own report. The cover page notes Heinke was in Spain at Pamplona after evading.

Flight Officer Robert L. Burke served as navigator on the 2 March 1944 Frankfurt mission. When the aircraft was set ablaze by flak, Burke bailed out. Narrator Carpenter noted that as he exited the plane at 15,000 feet, the navigator and nose gunner were just behind him, ready to follow. The crew roster lists Burke's disposition as "MIA in Neutral Country," indicating he was interned in a neutral country rather than returning directly to UK. His parachute opened successfully.

Roy CarpenterBombardier

2d Lt. Roy W. Carpenter Jr. was the bombardier and the narrator of E&E Report No. 670. Born 18 November 1921, he had served 1 year 10 months at the time of his evasion. On 2 March 1944 he bailed out of his burning B-24 at 15,000 feet over northern France, delaying pulling the ripcord for about 5,000-6,000 feet. He landed hard in a large field approximately 2 miles northwest of Bray-sur-Somme, injuring his knee and being dragged 200 yards by his parachute. A young man named Simeon Delsert took Carpenter to a barn and then to his house, providing civilian clothes. Carpenter was moved through several safe houses in the Bray-sur-Somme and Amiens area. In Forceville he met Canadian airman Raymond Sherk, a Spitfire pilot. On 23 March, a guide named René escorted Carpenter and Sherk via train toward Bordeaux. After staying in Bordeaux, they departed on 1 April and walked south using compass and silk escape maps via Dax, Pouillon, Bidache, and Bidarray. An elderly guide took them into Spain near Errazu on approximately 6 April 1944. Carpenter arrived in Pamplona, then departed for Gibraltar on or about 21 May 1944, arriving 22 May, and arrived back in the UK on 25 May 1944.

Robert J. RujawitsRadio Operator

S/Sgt Robert J. Rusiawitz (also spelled Rujawitz in the crew roster) served as radio operator on the 2 March 1944 Frankfurt mission. Rusiawitz successfully evaded and filed E&E Report No. 534. The crew roster cross-references E&E #534. The cover page notes he was "back in UK" at the time Carpenter's report was compiled, confirming his return to duty.

Oscar M. WagelieBall Turret Gunner

S/Sgt Oscar M. Wagelie (also spelled Wagalie in the cover page) served as ball turret gunner on the 2 March 1944 Frankfurt mission. He is listed as MIA on both the crew roster and the cover page. No further information about his fate was recorded in Carpenter's E&E report.

Arthur B. CrookerWaist Gunner

S/Sgt Arthur B. Crocker served as waist gunner on the 2 March 1944 Frankfurt mission. He is listed as MIA on both the crew roster and the cover page. No further information about his fate was recorded in Carpenter's E&E report.

Henry G. KarpfWaist Gunner

S/Sgt Henry G. Karpf (also spelled Karpe in the cover page) served as waist gunner on the 2 March 1944 Frankfurt mission. He is listed as MIA on both the crew roster and the cover page. No further information about his fate was recorded in Carpenter's E&E report.

S/Sgt Michael Shiwarski served as tail gunner on the 2 March 1944 Frankfurt mission. He is listed as MIA on both the crew roster and the cover page. No further information about his fate was recorded in Carpenter's E&E report.

Anthony R. PaladinoTop Turret Gunner

T/Sgt Anthony R. Paladino served as top turret gunner on the 2 March 1944 Frankfurt mission. He is listed as MIA on both the crew roster and the cover page of the E&E report. Narrator Carpenter stated his opinion that some crew members were possibly dead and some alive, based on information received from French helpers, but did not specifically identify Paladino's fate.

The flight.

§ Ship’s Record
The Day
Took off fromHardwick (Sta. 104)
The Record
ResultMissing in Action
Record confidenceValidated against a source
Fuel & Equipment
H2X scope photoNo

The target.

§ As Briefed
Frankfurt
As the log wrote itFrankfurt

Notes.

§ From the Record
On 2 March 1944, the aircraft was on a mission to Frankfurt, Germany. Over France, the plane was hit by flak on two or three engines, causing a fire. The pilot requested a course home and the aircraft fell out of formation, losing approximately 4,000 feet before the alarm bell sounded. The crew bailed out at approximately 15,000 feet at approximately 11:30 AM. Seven parachutes were observed in the air. The casualty questionnaire noted that one man was burnt before bailing out. The pilot, 2d Lt. Charles W. Mankin Jr., was killed — his parachute did not open. The aircraft did not explode on striking the ground. The plane was hit by large flak holes causing fire on two or three engines. The wreckage was not examined by the narrator. The aircraft came down in northern France in the vicinity of Bray-sur-Somme and the area around Albert.

Read the records.

2 documents

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 670

Military Record · United States Army Air Forces · 1944 · Escape and Evasion Reports
Related document

Escape and Evasion Report 826

Military Record · United States Army Air Forces · 1944 · Escape and Evasion Reports

Sources.

§ Provenance
United States Army Air Forces · National Archives and Records Administration · 1944
Official record
United States Army Air Forces · National Archives and Records Administration · 1944
Official record
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