Delivered Tulsa 9/3/44. Kearney 22/3/44. Grenier 6/4/44. Assigned 562BS/388BG [S] Knettishall 20/4/44. Missing in Action Berlin 19 May 1944 with William T. White, Co-pilot: Charles A. Ludwig, Navigator: John D. Bowser, Bombardier: John Pakiz, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Richard Anzalone, Radio Operator: Arnold B. Perry, Ball turret gunner: Paul G.W. Hauschild, Waist gunner: Ross M. Fritzley, Waist gunner: Earl R. Harris, Tail gunner: Kenneth R. Haws (10 Returned to Duty). On return from a mission to Berlin on 19 May 1944, B-17 Fortress #42-107160 had its #1 and #3 propellers running away and #2 engine was running rough with little power. Ditched in the North Sea, 25 miles off Great Yarmouth and all ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British Air-Sea Rescue Craft brought the crew members back to land. "LITTLE JOE".
Service
Units
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Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
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People
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Richard Anzalone was Engineer/Top Turret gunner on board B-17 Fortress #42-107160 when it ditched in the North Sea on return from the Berlin Mission of 19 May 1944. All ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 388th Bomb Group
John Bowser was a Navigator in the 388th Bomb Group. He is mentioned in War correspondent Ernie Pyle's book "Brave Men", together with his Pilot Lt William T. White. On return from a mission to Berlin on 19 May 1944, their B-17 Fortress #42-107160...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Ross Fritzley was Waist Gunner on board B-17 Fortress #42-107160 when it ditched in the North Sea on return from the Berlin Mission of 19 May 1944. All ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British Air-Sea Rescue...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Earl Harris was Waist Gunner on board B-17 Fortress #42-107160 when it ditched in the North Sea on return from the Berlin Mission of 19 May 1944. All ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British Air-Sea Rescue...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Paul Hauschild was Ball Turret gunner on board B-17 Fortress #42-107160 when it ditched in the North Sea on return from the Berlin Mission of 19 May 1944. All ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British Air-Sea...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Kenneth Haws was Tail Gunner on board B-17 Fortress #42-107160 when it ditched in the North Sea on return from the Berlin Mission of 19 May 1944. All ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British Air-Sea Rescue...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Charles Ludwig was Co-Pilot on board B-17 Fortress #42-107160 when it ditched in the North Sea on return from the Berlin Mission of 19 May 1944. All ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British Air-Sea Rescue...
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Military | Major | Bombardier | 388th Bomb Group
John Pakiz was Bombardier on board B-17 Fortress #42-107160 when it ditched in the North Sea on return from the Berlin Mission of 19 May 1944. All ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British Air-Sea Rescue...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 388th Bomb Group
Arnold Perry was Radio Operator on board B-17 Fortress #42-107160 when it ditched in the North Sea on return from the Berlin Mission of 19 May 1944. All ten men on board were immediately rescued by a nearby Allied minesweeper. A British Air-Sea Rescue...
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
William White was a Pilot in the 388th Bomb Group. He is mentioned in War correspondent Ernie Pyle's book "Brave Men", together with his Navigator John Bowser. On return from a mission to Berlin on 19 May 1944, their B-17 Fortress #42-107160 ditched in...
Places
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Military site : airfield
Knettishall was built to Class A standard for an American Bomb Group that would be bringing up to forty heavy bombers with them in three or four Squadrons. The 388th Bomb Group, which stayed at Knettishall for their entire service in the ETO, flew B-17...
Events
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