Co Pilot 1st/Lt. John E. Norquist KIA
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Squadron: 66th Bomb Sq 44th Bomb Gp
Service # 0-747876
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. George H. Maynard KIA
Target: Frankfurt, Germany
MACR#: 2356
Date Lost: 29-Jan-44
Serial Number: #41-29157
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: The crash site is actually near Ilfurth, France.
Cause: Fighters
crew of 10 7KIA 3POW
Notes: Again, due to poor weather conditions, our bombers had to drop their bombs via PFF method. Flak and enemy aircraft attacks were moderate but no enemy fighters were claimed by our gunners. However, the Group suffered two planes and crews lost; one each by the 66th and 67th squadrons.
1st Lt. George H. Maynard, pilot of A/C #157, and his crew were listed as MIA. The MACR states: “At 1115 hours, the pilot of A/C #41-29157, was observed to leave his position on Lt. Jewell’s wing, and to fly for a time with a Group to the left. Shortly thereafter, fire was reported in the bomb bay of this plane. Two chutes were seen to open as it was disappearing into the clouds, under control, apparently.” Three men were able to exit the falling ship and survive. One of them, tail turret gunner Derise L. Nichols, gave me this report: “We had been briefed three times for this mission and it is believed that the Germans may have got word and were ready of us. “We were over France and about an hour from target, with all bombs on board, when we were jumped by a flight of fighters and were hit immediately. I was the tail gunner and shells hit just behind me and made very large holes in the waist section. #4 engine was hit and put out of action; so were the controls to the tail section. So the pilots could only control flight with the three remaining engines. With the possibility of getting back to England now so slight, the decision was made to head for Switzerland. “The bombs were salvoed, but even then with the trouble of trying to steer with the engines, we continually lost altitude across France. We did finally cross the Swiss border, but by then we were less than 1,000 feet. We were shot at and hit by ground fire, and #2 engine was put out of commission as well. Not being able to gain altitude over the rising terrain of Switzerland, we had to circle back to abandon ship. “Only three of us got out – all from the rear – because we were so low by that time that the others did not have time to get out and open their chutes. We landed about five miles from Switzerland at Mulhouse, France.”
The village of Ilfurth placed a memorial stone near the crash site and also put a plaque in the local church. It was dedicated 8 June 1996. A translation of the French text on the plaque follows: “Eighty meters west of this monument, the American bomber B-24 Liberator #41-29157, 66th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, was shot down on 29 January 1944, returning from a mission over Germany. Seven crew members (George H. Maynard, 1st Lt.; Thomas W. Nielson, 1st Lt.; John E. Norquist, 1st Lt.; Russell W. Patterson, T/Sgt.; Donald C. Porter, S/Sgt.; Louis J. O’Donnell, S/Sgt.; and Frank Arcamone, Sgt.) died for France. Passersby, remember.”
Crew of 41-29157
1st/Lt. George H. Maynard Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. John E. Norquist Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Carol A. Mundt Navigator POW
Thomas W. Nielson Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Donald C. Porter Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Russell W. Patterson Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Clarence W. Swaile Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Louis J. O'Donnell Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Frank Arcamone KIA
S/Sgt. Derise L. Nichols POW
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Squadron: 66th Bomb Sq 44th Bomb Gp
Service # 0-747876
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. George H. Maynard KIA
Target: Frankfurt, Germany
MACR#: 2356
Date Lost: 29-Jan-44
Serial Number: #41-29157
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: The crash site is actually near Ilfurth, France.
Cause: Fighters
crew of 10 7KIA 3POW
Notes: Again, due to poor weather conditions, our bombers had to drop their bombs via PFF method. Flak and enemy aircraft attacks were moderate but no enemy fighters were claimed by our gunners. However, the Group suffered two planes and crews lost; one each by the 66th and 67th squadrons.
1st Lt. George H. Maynard, pilot of A/C #157, and his crew were listed as MIA. The MACR states: “At 1115 hours, the pilot of A/C #41-29157, was observed to leave his position on Lt. Jewell’s wing, and to fly for a time with a Group to the left. Shortly thereafter, fire was reported in the bomb bay of this plane. Two chutes were seen to open as it was disappearing into the clouds, under control, apparently.” Three men were able to exit the falling ship and survive. One of them, tail turret gunner Derise L. Nichols, gave me this report: “We had been briefed three times for this mission and it is believed that the Germans may have got word and were ready of us. “We were over France and about an hour from target, with all bombs on board, when we were jumped by a flight of fighters and were hit immediately. I was the tail gunner and shells hit just behind me and made very large holes in the waist section. #4 engine was hit and put out of action; so were the controls to the tail section. So the pilots could only control flight with the three remaining engines. With the possibility of getting back to England now so slight, the decision was made to head for Switzerland. “The bombs were salvoed, but even then with the trouble of trying to steer with the engines, we continually lost altitude across France. We did finally cross the Swiss border, but by then we were less than 1,000 feet. We were shot at and hit by ground fire, and #2 engine was put out of commission as well. Not being able to gain altitude over the rising terrain of Switzerland, we had to circle back to abandon ship. “Only three of us got out – all from the rear – because we were so low by that time that the others did not have time to get out and open their chutes. We landed about five miles from Switzerland at Mulhouse, France.”
The village of Ilfurth placed a memorial stone near the crash site and also put a plaque in the local church. It was dedicated 8 June 1996. A translation of the French text on the plaque follows: “Eighty meters west of this monument, the American bomber B-24 Liberator #41-29157, 66th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, was shot down on 29 January 1944, returning from a mission over Germany. Seven crew members (George H. Maynard, 1st Lt.; Thomas W. Nielson, 1st Lt.; John E. Norquist, 1st Lt.; Russell W. Patterson, T/Sgt.; Donald C. Porter, S/Sgt.; Louis J. O’Donnell, S/Sgt.; and Frank Arcamone, Sgt.) died for France. Passersby, remember.”
Crew of 41-29157
1st/Lt. George H. Maynard Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. John E. Norquist Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Carol A. Mundt Navigator POW
Thomas W. Nielson Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Donald C. Porter Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Russell W. Patterson Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Clarence W. Swaile Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Louis J. O'Donnell Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Frank Arcamone KIA
S/Sgt. Derise L. Nichols POW
Co Pilot 1st/Lt. John E. Norquist KIA
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Squadron: 66th Bomb Sq 44th Bomb Gp
Service # 0-747876
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. George H. Maynard KIA
Target: Frankfurt, Germany
MACR#: 2356
Date Lost: 29-Jan-44
Serial Number: #41-29157
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: The crash site is actually near Ilfurth, France.
Cause: Fighters
crew of 10 7KIA 3POW
Notes: Again, due to poor weather conditions, our bombers had to drop their bombs via PFF method. Flak and enemy aircraft attacks were moderate but no enemy fighters were claimed by our gunners. However, the Group suffered two planes and crews lost; one each by the 66th and 67th squadrons.
1st Lt. George H. Maynard, pilot of A/C #157, and his crew were listed as MIA. The MACR states: “At 1115 hours, the pilot of A/C #41-29157, was observed to leave his position on Lt. Jewell’s wing, and to fly for a time with a Group to the left. Shortly thereafter, fire was reported in the bomb bay of this plane. Two chutes were seen to open as it was disappearing into the clouds, under control, apparently.” Three men were able to exit the falling ship and survive. One of them, tail turret gunner Derise L. Nichols, gave me this report: “We had been briefed three times for this mission and it is believed that the Germans may have got word and were ready of us. “We were over France and about an hour from target, with all bombs on board, when we were jumped by a flight of fighters and were hit immediately. I was the tail gunner and shells hit just behind me and made very large holes in the waist section. #4 engine was hit and put out of action; so were the controls to the tail section. So the pilots could only control flight with the three remaining engines. With the possibility of getting back to England now so slight, the decision was made to head for Switzerland. “The bombs were salvoed, but even then with the trouble of trying to steer with the engines, we continually lost altitude across France. We did finally cross the Swiss border, but by then we were less than 1,000 feet. We were shot at and hit by ground fire, and #2 engine was put out of commission as well. Not being able to gain altitude over the rising terrain of Switzerland, we had to circle back to abandon ship. “Only three of us got out – all from the rear – because we were so low by that time that the others did not have time to get out and open their chutes. We landed about five miles from Switzerland at Mulhouse, France.”
The village of Ilfurth placed a memorial stone near the crash site and also put a plaque in the local church. It was dedicated 8 June 1996. A translation of the French text on the plaque follows: “Eighty meters west of this monument, the American bomber B-24 Liberator #41-29157, 66th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, was shot down on 29 January 1944, returning from a mission over Germany. Seven crew members (George H. Maynard, 1st Lt.; Thomas W. Nielson, 1st Lt.; John E. Norquist, 1st Lt.; Russell W. Patterson, T/Sgt.; Donald C. Porter, S/Sgt.; Louis J. O’Donnell, S/Sgt.; and Frank Arcamone, Sgt.) died for France. Passersby, remember.”
Crew of 41-29157
1st/Lt. George H. Maynard Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. John E. Norquist Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Carol A. Mundt Navigator POW
Thomas W. Nielson Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Donald C. Porter Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Russell W. Patterson Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Clarence W. Swaile Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Louis J. O'Donnell Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Frank Arcamone KIA
S/Sgt. Derise L. Nichols POW
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Squadron: 66th Bomb Sq 44th Bomb Gp
Service # 0-747876
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. George H. Maynard KIA
Target: Frankfurt, Germany
MACR#: 2356
Date Lost: 29-Jan-44
Serial Number: #41-29157
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: The crash site is actually near Ilfurth, France.
Cause: Fighters
crew of 10 7KIA 3POW
Notes: Again, due to poor weather conditions, our bombers had to drop their bombs via PFF method. Flak and enemy aircraft attacks were moderate but no enemy fighters were claimed by our gunners. However, the Group suffered two planes and crews lost; one each by the 66th and 67th squadrons.
1st Lt. George H. Maynard, pilot of A/C #157, and his crew were listed as MIA. The MACR states: “At 1115 hours, the pilot of A/C #41-29157, was observed to leave his position on Lt. Jewell’s wing, and to fly for a time with a Group to the left. Shortly thereafter, fire was reported in the bomb bay of this plane. Two chutes were seen to open as it was disappearing into the clouds, under control, apparently.” Three men were able to exit the falling ship and survive. One of them, tail turret gunner Derise L. Nichols, gave me this report: “We had been briefed three times for this mission and it is believed that the Germans may have got word and were ready of us. “We were over France and about an hour from target, with all bombs on board, when we were jumped by a flight of fighters and were hit immediately. I was the tail gunner and shells hit just behind me and made very large holes in the waist section. #4 engine was hit and put out of action; so were the controls to the tail section. So the pilots could only control flight with the three remaining engines. With the possibility of getting back to England now so slight, the decision was made to head for Switzerland. “The bombs were salvoed, but even then with the trouble of trying to steer with the engines, we continually lost altitude across France. We did finally cross the Swiss border, but by then we were less than 1,000 feet. We were shot at and hit by ground fire, and #2 engine was put out of commission as well. Not being able to gain altitude over the rising terrain of Switzerland, we had to circle back to abandon ship. “Only three of us got out – all from the rear – because we were so low by that time that the others did not have time to get out and open their chutes. We landed about five miles from Switzerland at Mulhouse, France.”
The village of Ilfurth placed a memorial stone near the crash site and also put a plaque in the local church. It was dedicated 8 June 1996. A translation of the French text on the plaque follows: “Eighty meters west of this monument, the American bomber B-24 Liberator #41-29157, 66th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, was shot down on 29 January 1944, returning from a mission over Germany. Seven crew members (George H. Maynard, 1st Lt.; Thomas W. Nielson, 1st Lt.; John E. Norquist, 1st Lt.; Russell W. Patterson, T/Sgt.; Donald C. Porter, S/Sgt.; Louis J. O’Donnell, S/Sgt.; and Frank Arcamone, Sgt.) died for France. Passersby, remember.”
Crew of 41-29157
1st/Lt. George H. Maynard Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. John E. Norquist Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Carol A. Mundt Navigator POW
Thomas W. Nielson Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Donald C. Porter Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Russell W. Patterson Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Clarence W. Swaile Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Louis J. O'Donnell Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Frank Arcamone KIA
S/Sgt. Derise L. Nichols POW
Inscription
1LT, 66 AAF BOMB SQ WORLD WAR II
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