Mission 145.Solingen.

On December 1, 1943, the aircraft departed on a bombing mission to Solingen, Germany. It was flying left wing of the lead ship at approximately 23,000-24,000 feet altitude, routing via Holland and Belgium. The aircraft came under enemy fighter attack with cannon fire, which badly shot up the tail section. The plane fell out of formation west of Aachen and was shot down approximately 15 miles southeast of Cologne. The aircraft was abandoned in the air and struck the ground at an unknown location. All crew members bailed out with the exception of the tail gunner, S/Sgt. Harry E. Byerman, who was believed to have been seriously wounded or killed by cannon fire and went down with the aircraft. Multiple crew questionnaires confirm he was last seen in the tail position and did not bail out. Plane serial unknown.