Mission 787

B-24J serial 42-78486, marked "486-G," departed Hardwick on a bombing mission to Dortmund on 8 January 1945. The aircraft left the formation just before bombs-away and peeled off to the right, apparently still under control when last observed. German records (Downing No. KU 3628 / H 131) indicate the aircraft crashed and burned on the southwest point of Schouwen Island, Holland, on 28 January 1945 at 1400 hours. Markings were not identifiable as the aircraft burned in the combat area. All ten crew members survived and were captured. They were processed through the POW Concentration Point of the Air Forces, Holland, and transferred to Dulag Luft West (Evaluation Center West, Oberursel) beginning 30 January 1945.

From William Orient's flight log: aircraft '594-A' (42-50594, 328th BS; diary lists B-24H, DB record is B-24J). Headed for a tactical target, aborted to Woodbridge for emergency landing. Log remark: caught in a strong thermal, double spin, pulled out at 1500 ft, left rudder snapped off. Duration 0:50.