41-24298

B-24D serial 41-24298, assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group, was reported missing in action on 13 November 1943. This is confirmed in 8th Air Force correspondence (2nd Indorsement, 1 March 1944), which identifies the aircraft and notes that the Missing Air Crew Report had been forwarded to the Commanding General, Army Air Forces.

Bodies of crew members were recovered from the North Sea, washing ashore on the western coast of Norddorf on the Isle of Amrum (Germany) on 13-14 November 1943. The German Air Base Command at Hoerum/Sylt documented the recoveries in Personal Casualty Report No. 16, dated 24 November 1943.

Several crew members were buried at the New Cemetery of Nebel/Amrum, in graves numbered 52 through 57. One body (Grave No. 56) could not be identified. Causes of death were listed as probable drowning, in some cases complicated by wounds from flak splinters.

Captain Ralph P. Gewehr (0-416295) served as pilot. The aircraft was last sighted at 5520N 0830E at 1120 hours. Eyewitness accounts described a B-24 under enemy attack with engine #2 on fire, entering cloud in a flat spin with two parachutes seen. A German military record dated 24 November 1943 from Hornum/Sylt documents the recovery of six American airmen's remains during the period 19 October to 24 November 1943.