Crew Roster · Personal File
Sidney A. Mapes
Ball Turret Gunner · 409th Squadron
S/Sgt. Sidney A. Mapes served as ball turret gunner of B-24D 42-63987, assigned to the 409th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, AAF Station 104.
He was aboard the aircraft when it was lost on 1 December 1943 during a bombing mission to Solingen, Germany. The aircraft was last sighted near Turnhout, Belgium after being attacked by enemy aircraft. Parachutes were reported used by crew members.
Sortie Log
1 CATALOGUED SORTIE
01 DEC 1943
01 DEC 1943
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
№ 145
01 DEC 1943
Solingen
B-24D serial number 42-63987, assigned to the 409th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, departed AAF Station 104 on 1 December 1943 on an objective bombing mission to Solingen, Germany. The aircraft was last sighted at 1245 hours in the vicinity of Turnhout, Belgium (coordinates 5120N 0456E) and was lost as a result of enemy aircraft action. Weather conditions at the time included 7-8/10 cumulus and stratocumulus clouds at 2,000 feet with tops at 8,000-10,000 feet and visibility of 6 miles. Witnesses who last sighted the aircraft included 1st Lt. J.M. Stauffacher (O-797629), F/O R.D. Kornecker (T-197), and 1st Lt. C.W. Walters (O-797208). Parachutes were reported used by crew members. The aircraft carried four R-1830-43 engines with serial numbers 42-87063, 42-87177, 42-86771, and 42-87146. The MACR was prepared by 1st Lt. George J. Meiser, Air Corps, and dated 12 January 1944.
Southwind42-63987