The B-24D Liberator bomber, 42-63982, JACK FROST, was assigned to the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron. It Failed to Return (FTR) from a bombing mission over Osnabruck, Germany. The aircraft was shot down, hit by rockets and cannon fire from German ME-110 fighter planes. The pilot, Luther Bird, dropped out of formation in a spin with fire from his damaged engine being sucked into the airplane via a gaping hole in the fuselage, setting the bomb bay on fire. Finally, the burning airplane exploded over Quakenbruck, Germany, ejecting it's crew members. The #3 engine was shot out on fire. The plane entered a spin, spun down on fire, and exploded. It's pilot, Luther Bird, was blown out of the aircraft and survived, saved by his chute. 3 x POW, Prisoners of War, including Luther Bird. 3 x KIA. 22 Dec 43. MACR 2190