Crew Roster · Personal File

Melvin L. Heinke

Co-Pilot · 409th Squadron

2d Lt. Melvin L. Heinke served as co-pilot on the mission of 2 March 1944. When the aircraft was set ablaze by flak, Heinke bailed out with the rest of the surviving crew.

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. One of the men who visited Carpenter had also assisted Heinke directly.

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 of Carpenter's report notes Heinke was in Spain at Pamplona after completing his evasion.

Completed Tour

Sortie Log

1 CATALOGUED SORTIE
02 MAR 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

№ 244

02 MAR 1944

Frankfurt

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.

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