13 NOVEMBER 1943 · SATURDAY · STATION 104Missing in Action

Mission 130.Bremen.

Bremen, Germany

Intended Target
Bremen
Bremen, Germany
Actual Target
Bremen
As briefed
Operating Group
93rd BG
2BD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
113

The cost.

§ Outcome
13
Ships Lost
2
Men Lost

The route.

§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
79° T
Bearing In
265° T

The formation.

2 aircraft · tap a ship for its crew
ROT/Sgt Frederick W. FoxKIA
WGS/Sgt John W. ShawKIA

B-24D serial 41-24298 was lost on 13 November 1943 during a bombing mission to Bremen. The aircraft departed AAF Station 104 with a crew of eleven. Last known position was 5520N 0830E at 1120 hours. Captain Russell D. Demont, pilot of aircraft #869Q, reported that Capt. Gewehr's aircraft began following him when he aborted at 1118 hours at 5520N 0830E. Upon realizing his error, crew members believed Gewehr turned back to rejoin the formation. Around the same time a B-24 was observed under attack by enemy aircraft, with one crew reporting that engine #2 was on fire and the aircraft entered cloud in a flat spin with two parachutes seen. Another account described part of the wing as missing. Poor visibility and distance from the formation made positive identification uncertain. A German military record dated 24 November 1943 from the Hornum/Sylt air base documents the recovery of six corpses of American airmen during the period 19 October to 24 November 1943. Bodies of crew members washed ashore on the Isle of Amrum 13-14 November 1943 and were buried at the New Cemetery of Nebel/Amrum. Sortie documented in both MACR-2189 and MACR-2190.

Sources.

§ Provenance
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981
Published