Mission

B-24D serial 41-23111, assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group (H), departed AAF Station 104 on 9 October 1943 on a bombing mission to the submarine pens at Danzig. The aircraft was last sighted at coordinates 5557N 0809E at 1110 hours, when it left formation and turned toward England with no apparent trouble observed by other crews. According to pilot Capt. Thomas W. Atkinson's casualty questionnaire, the aircraft reached the target area approximately 10 miles north of Danzig before one engine ran away and the other three stopped. The navigator, 2nd Lt. Parker P. Crater, bailed out over the Baltic approximately 80 miles southeast of Kalmar, Sweden, at around 1430 hours. The aircraft made a forced landing approximately two miles south of Logaby, Sweden. All remaining nine crew members were uninjured. The crew was interned in Sweden, and their status was subsequently reported through the American Embassy via diplomatic channels. As of 12 November 1943, all surviving crew members were reported living at Korshus, Sweden in perfect condition. The navigator who bailed out over the Baltic was listed as Missing in Action. No search was conducted for the aircraft.