Mission 439.Abbeville.

The B-24 was the lead ship in the Division on the June 24, 1944 mission. The primary target, Melun Airfield, was covered by cloud, so the formation looked for targets of opportunity. Near Treon they hit a small flak battery at 21,000 feet at approximately 0900 hours. The aircraft was struck by flak at the moment the bombs were dropped. According to S/Sgt Wright, the plane blew up a few seconds after he bailed out. The French, who investigated the crash scene, reported that the nose gunner S/Sgt Klot and engineer T/Sgt Arnold were killed in the incident. Lt. Col. Porter, riding as co-pilot and formation commander, did not bail out and was also believed killed. Two other ships in the formation were reportedly knocked down as well. Seven of the eleven crew members got out of the aircraft. Three parachutes were observed coming down as Wright regained consciousness after hitting the ground at St. Sauveur. The mission had taken off at approximately quarter to six on the morning of June 24, 1944. Flak was described as not intense but very accurate.

On 24 June 1944 the aircraft was hit by a direct flak strike in the nose at approximately 21,000 feet altitude. The nose caught fire immediately and the plane blew up. The aircraft departed Hardwick at approximately 0530 and the loss occurred in the vicinity of Tréon, south of Dreux, France. Approximately seven crew members bailed out. The plane blew up in the air before striking the ground. According to the bombardier, Capt. Schilling, the pilot, co-pilot, top turret gunner, and nose gunner were observed in the plane and were likely killed before or during the explosion.