“The Urgin Virgin”
B-24D serial 42-41004 was on a mission to Bremen on 13 November 1943 when it went missing. The aircraft departed from AAF Station 104 and was part of the 329th Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group.
According to eyewitness statements, the aircraft was still in formation at 1118 hours as observed by Captain Russell D. Demont (O-666252), pilot of A/C 869Q. It was last seen a few minutes before 1130 hours at position 5347N 0755E by Lt. Leonard D. Lange, pilot of A/C 809N, banking off to the right, presumably to abort.
The cause of loss was listed as unknown. Weather at the time was 9/10 to 10/10 cloud cover. The aircraft carried four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 engines (serial numbers 42-86725, 42-86748, 42-86740, and 42-86592) and was armed with twelve .50 caliber M-2 machine guns along with sidearms and small arms.
The MACR was compiled by 1st Lt. George L. Meisel on 2 January 1944 and subsequently reviewed by Eighth Air Force headquarters. The report was forwarded through command channels in February and March 1944 in response to inquiries about crew member 2nd Lt. Franklin C. Parsonage.