During one of the bomb runs, all of the bombs did not release so I went into the bomb bay and released those that were hung up. On Jan 20, 1945 we took off on mission #115 and immediately after take off engine #1caught fire. Then engine #2 was observed to be onfire and the plane started loosing altitude. Two gunners bailed out and then the navigator and the engineer bailed out. The navigator and engineer were killed but the gunners survived. I was ordered to salvo the bombs after which time I took the crash position between the pilot and co-pilot. I suffered a back fracture to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebra and was in the hospital for 31 days. I then returned to duty to fly 4 more missions to complete my 30 missions. the name of the Plane that crashed was the Gallopin Ghost #43-38332



Air Medal w 4/Oak Leaf Cluster