Crew Roster · Personal File

Henry K. Segars

Co-Pilot · 330th Squadron
HometownSC

Major Henry K. Segars Jr. served as command pilot aboard B-24J 42-50829 ("Sweet Chariot"), acting as co-pilot on the 18 September 1944 supply mission to Eindhoven. He handled all radio communications during the emergency, transmitting distress calls to Air Sea Rescue that were received by the surface vessels that recovered the three survivors.

Segars was in his seat on the flight deck at the time of ditching. He did not survive and was reported missing in action.

Missing in ActionPASSED 18 SEP 1944

Sortie Log

3 CATALOGUED SORTIES
24 FEB 1944 — 18 SEP 1944

The sorties below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
№ 233
24 FEB 1944
GothaA/I
42-100309
№ 344
08 MAY 1944
Brunswick??
42-100309
№ 639
18 SEP 1944
Eindhoven
B-24J serial 42-50829, nicknamed 'Sweet Chariot,' was on a supply mission to Eindhoven on 18 September 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden. The aircraft departed Hardwick and flew at a maximum altitude of 1,800 feet. Four minutes before reaching the IP, No. 2 engine was knocked out by small arms fire and feathered. After dropping supplies, No. 3 engine began smoking and another engine was feathered due to further small arms damage. No. 1 engine subsequently lost power. The nose turret, elevator trim tabs, and the airframe generally were shot up. Unable to maintain altitude, the crew jettisoned loose equipment and ditched in the North Sea at approximately 5157N 0233E. The impact was extremely violent. Two Royal Navy surface craft that had received Major Segars' radio distress calls arrived almost immediately and recovered three survivors: 2nd Lt. Karian, T/Sgt Lamoureux, and S/Sgt Sciegaj.
Sweet Chariot42-50829
§ Interment
Cemetery
Cambridge American Cemetery