Accident and Missing Air Crew Reports

575th BOMB SQUADRON

ROLES: PILOT AND CO-PILOT

INDIVIDUAL CREW MEMBERS

Sources: AAIR, USAAFDATA, MACR, WWII AAF Casualty List, NARA (see resources page).


Assigned
Squadron Crew Year Month Role Name Rank Serial Status
575575000432w.pFleck, Wilbur E.1/Lt.O793094
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Pilot. Box 1, Second flight, No.4. Right engine of Aldridge's aircraft burst into flames and it peeled off to right.
SOURCE: MACR 04216, 42-95845. 27 Apr 1944
NOTES:
5755750004310w.unkHarkins, Herschel S.Maj.O668065
SOURCE: MACR 11661, 42-107671. 23 Dec 1944
NOTES:
5755750004310w.unkHarkins, Herschel S.Maj.O668065
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Harkins states he was flying 42-95847, Box 1, high flight, no.1. He was supervising Lt. Breesman as a new lead pilot. Breesman was wounded by FLAK. PFF aircraft were damaged by attacks and were flying erratically. Jannsen was pilot of lead ship, lead element, Box 1. Savage attack by enemy aircraft. 42-107671 (No.4) moved to left with wheels down and engine feathered. 43-34418 joined the lead element and returned safely. 4 of Harkins flight were shot down by enemy aircraft.
SOURCE: MACR 11670, 42-95844. 23 Dec 1944
NOTES:
5755750004310w.unkHarkins, Herschel S.Maj.O668065
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Harkins states he was flying 42-95847, Box 1, high flight, no.1. He was supervising Lt. Breesman as a new lead pilot. Breesman was wounded by FLAK. PFF aircraft were damaged by attacks and were flying erratically. Jannsen was pilot of lead ship, lead element, Box 1. Savage attack by enemy aircraft. 42-107671 (No.4) moved to left with wheels down and engine feathered. 43-34418 joined the lead element and returned safely. 4 of Harkins flight were shot down by enemy aircraft.
SOURCE: MACR 11551, 42-95932. 23 Dec 1944
NOTES:
5755750004310w.unkHarkins, Herschel S.Maj.O668065
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Harkins states he was flying 42-95847, Box 1, high flight, no.1. He was supervising Lt. Breesman as a new lead pilot. Breesman was wounded by FLAK. PFF aircraft were damaged by attacks and were flying erratically. Jannsen was pilot of lead ship, lead element, Box 1. Savage attack by enemy aircraft. 42-107671 (No.4) moved to left with wheels down and engine feathered. 43-34418 joined the lead element and returned safely. 4 of Harkins flight were shot down by enemy aircraft.
SOURCE: MACR 11486, 43-34440. 23 Dec 1944
NOTES:
575575000448w.pMartin, Clarence L.1/Lt.O705131
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Pilot - Box 1, lead flight, no.4. FLAK hit right gas tank. Flames burned my control surfaces off. Aircraft descended in spiral. No chutes.
SOURCE: MACR 12611, 42-107576. 24 Feb 1945
NOTES:
575575000432w.pMitchell, Kenneth W.Capt.O731630
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Pilot - no.2. Stalnaker hit by FLAK on bomb run. Black smoke from right engine. Oil cooler hit ? I took over lead. Spoke to Stalnaker who seemed calm.
SOURCE: MACR 06649, 42-95821. 8 Jul 1944
NOTES:
575575000449w.pTimbers, Robert R.1/Lt.O760923
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Pilot - lead flight, no.3. Just before release point, burst of FLAK, hit right engine and main auxiliary fuel tank. Aircraft caught fire, veered right, went down in spiral dive. Wing broke off. No chutes.
SOURCE: MACR 12611, 42-107576. 24 Feb 1945
NOTES:
575575000444w.cpCarpenter, Earl S.2/Lt.O689206
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Co-Pilot - no.2 on Stalnaker's wing. Stalnaker hit by FLAK. Smoke from right engine about 30 seconds before bombs dropped. He broke left, feathered right engine, and lost altitude. Capt. Mitchell called Stalnaker to say he would take over the lead. About 5 minutes later, he called Stalnaker to say he was trying to get him a fighter escort.
SOURCE: MACR 06649, 42-95821. 8 Jul 1944
NOTES:
5755750004310w.tgDaprato, Robert F.F/OT122880
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Tail Gunner !!! lead flight, lead ship. Sullivan was No.7.
SOURCE: MACR 05689, 42-95848. 7 Jun 1944
NOTES:
575575000444w.cpWakeland, Vernon E.F/OT1786
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Co-Pilot - Box 2, lead flight, No.5.
SOURCE: MACR 06360, 42-107811. 5 Jul 1944
NOTES:
57557500043w.unkWilkinson, Edward S.1/Lt.O795542
WITNESS DETAILS & STATEMENT: Second flight, No.2. Aldridge's aircraft was hit by FLAK in right engine which burst into flames. His aircraft made a steep turn to the right. I pulled up over him and caught his prop wash as he passed under me. The boards inside my waist window were blistered from the fire.
SOURCE: MACR 04216, 42-95845. 27 Apr 1944
NOTES: