42-7614

On 7 January 1944, the aircraft departed Hardwick at approximately 0700 to bomb Ludwigshafen. The crew flew through thick clouds from Paris onward. Just before reaching the target area, a JU 188 made a pass at the formation and the waist gunner fired a burst at it. Flak was fairly heavy.

The aircraft was hit by flak before dropping its bombs, with holes observed in the right wing and damage to the cowling of No. 4 engine (oil smoke pouring from a holed oil line). The crew bombed the target with the formation and started back. No. 2 engine then began to fail and was feathered, causing the aircraft to lose altitude and speed. After 20 more minutes on three engines they fell behind their group and attempted to join another B-17 formation but could not maintain speed. No. 4 engine also failed. With No. 3 supercharger also out, the aircraft was reduced to two engines and descended to 8,000 feet.

Coming out of the clouds, the crew observed the Fontainebleau Forest below. They threw out all available equipment but could not regain altitude. Flak began bursting to the right of the plane and the interphone went out. A fragment of flak went through the fuselage behind the waist windows, after which the radio operator ordered the crew to bail out at approximately 1420. The aircraft went into a spin to the left as the last crew members were jumping. The bail-out occurred at approximately 4,000 feet altitude, approximately 47 km south of Paris near St. Sauveur, southwest of Melun.