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Ralph H. Whitcomb crew at Gulfport Field (left to right)
Standing: Richard K. Rolle, Howard W. Nicol, Ralph H. Whitcomb, and
Oliver K. Spears
Kneeling: Albert G. Delgado, George A. Pults, Henry D. McLafferty, Arthur
D. Stemen, Roch E. Courreges and Clarence W. Stonesifer. In front is
their Flying Mascot, "C-1."
100th BG Photo Archives
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| 2nd Lt Ralph H.Whitcomb |
P |
KIA |
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG |
| 2nd Lt Howard W.Nicol |
CP |
KIA |
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG |
| 2nd Lt Richard K.Rolle |
NAV |
POW/WIA |
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG |
| Sgt George A.Pults |
TOG/NG |
KIA |
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG |
|
Cpl Henry D. McLafferty |
TTE |
RFS |
Suffered frostbite of hands on early mission |
| Sgt Arthur D.Stemen |
ROG |
KIA |
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG |
| Sgt Clarence W.Stonesifer
|
WG |
KIA |
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG |
|
Sgt Albert G.Delgado |
BTG |
WIA/POW |
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG |
|
Sgt Roch E.Courreges |
TG |
WIA/POW |
31 DEC 44 HAMBURG |
350th Bomb Squadron, joined the 100th BG on 28/10/44.
This was the 7th mission for this crew. S/Sgt Clayton
Smith from Lt Hansen Crew, was a replacement for Henry D.McLafferty on
the crew. He flew as WG and Sgt Stonesifer moved from WG to TTE ( when
McLafferty got frostbite).
|
2nd Lt |
Ralph H. Whitcomb |
P |
KIA |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
|
2nd Lt |
Howard W. Nicol |
CP |
KIA |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
| 2nd Lt |
Richard K. Rolle |
NAV |
POW |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
|
Sgt |
George A. Pults |
TOGG |
KIA |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
|
Sgt |
Arthur D. Stemen |
ROG |
KIA |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
|
Sgt |
Clarence W. Stonesifer |
TTE |
KIA |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
| Sgt |
Albert G. Delgado |
BTG |
POW |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
| S/Sgt |
Clayton J. Smith |
WG |
POW |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
| Sgt |
Roch E. Courreges |
TG |
POW |
31-Dec-44 |
Hamburg |
EYEWITNESS:
AC 43-3853S was attacked by E/A at 5330N - 0855E at 1200 hours. The
entire right wing began to burn and the A/C circled for two minutes under
control before spinning down enveloped in flames. No chutes were seen."
Report by Roch Courreges:
"When I left the plane I was forced to by flames sweeping from Radio
room and around ball turret. I checked the Radioman (Arthur Stemen but he
was too serious and I was to weak to throw him out. I believe he may have
been shot in the heart and he may have been dead. I had snapped my oxygen
hose loose and had a wound over my eye and I was so weak I had to crawl to
waist door and fall out head forward. It is my opinion that the remaining
men (Whitcomb, Nicol, Pults,
Stemen and Stonesifer) never left the plane. On my way down I saw the
right wing leave the plane and the plane was a mass of flames."
Report by Richard Rolle:
"Our scheduled route was over Baltic, passing north of Hamburg and
then approaching target from the northeast. Actual route in was south of the briefed route
along northern coast of Germany necessitating a swing into the north
before bomb run. Target time was about 45 minutes after briefing time. Ship was hit
by fighters (FW l90s) at about 1148 at 5330N - 0925E. Caught fire (Right
wing and inside of nose) and started to go down in spin about 2 minutes later. Interphone was
shot out. I believe ship blew up since I was either blown out or thrown out by the spin. After opening my
chute, I saw only a burning
wing and smaller parts of plane falling and no other chutes. I landed near
the town of Rotenburg 5307N & 0929E. In hospital in Rotenburg I learned
that Sgt. Roch Courreges (Tail gunner) Sgt.Albert Delgado (Ball Turret)
and Sgt.Clayton Smith (Waist gunner were also in hospital. Delgado
informed me later that Steren had been killed in the plane. I believe Lt. Whitcomb, Lt. Nicol,
Sgt. Stonesifer and Sgt. Pults were unable to get out of the ship because of the spin and the flames. One man
whom I could not identify was lying unconscious near the escape hatch." |
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