Pilot 1st/Lt. Clifford J Bentcliff KIA
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# O-815806
Awards:Awards: Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
MACR #10139
Target: Hamburg, Germany
Mission Date: 30-Oct-44
Serial Number: #44-10523
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-T
Aircraft Name:
Location: vicinity of Hamburg
Cause:prop wash cases loss of control
Crew of 11 8KIA 3POW
Due to weather conditions at the IP and interference by preceding Wings, our formation integrity was broken, forcing 19 aircraft to bomb the Hamburg Oil Refinery by PFF and eight others to attack Uterson, Germany. No enemy aircraft were encountered, flak at the target was heavy but
inaccurate. One 506th Squadron aircraft did not return, with flak being suspected as the cause.
MACR #10139 states, in part, “Immediately after bombing, at 1318 hours, in vicinity of Hamburg, this aircraft went into a very steep bank. Heavy flak was encountered at this time.
Aircraft came out of the 90-degree bank and was last observed flying apparently under control on 180-degree heading. Poor visibility, due to high clouds, made further sightings impossible.
No chutes were seen.” (Wrong aircraft?)
Lester Griffin, engineer, said that three men survived: Fuller, Capps, and himself. “We were a radar crew and flew only in bad weather. We were on our 23rd mission. The plane exploded, knocking or blowing me out, and I came down by parachute after regaining consciousness. I am writing this letter from the V.A. Hospital in Gainsville.”
Further information was not possible as Sgt. Griffin died in 1983.
Sgt. Clint Fuller sent other brief statements,“Bentcliff, Gempel, Fiskum, Barefoot, Celentano, Maschmeyer, Downey and a man of Mexican descent (Garza), went down with the plane. Ralph W. Capps and I bailed out over Hamburg, but I don’t know how Lester Griffin managed to get out.
“We flew into a heavy front while leading the high, right squadron. Soup was so thick that we had to fly on instruments. Someone crossed over in front of us, with the prop wash flipping us over, and the plane spun into the ground from approximately 28,000 feet.
“On the contrary, our plane did not explode – it hit the deck. Neither was it a radar ship. The radio operator, Maschmeyer, froze, apparently from shock, and would not bail out. I had to climb over him in order to get to the catwalk in the bomb bay. On this mission, I was riding the top turret and that is why I had to fight my way past the radio operator. Both Barefoot and Garza were new to our crew. Barefoot was riding the nose turret in order to complete the final mission. We did drop our bombs, but only to get rid of them. We saw no fighters or flak! In my opinion, there was no explosion as the German interrogator discussed our tail markings, base, Group, Squadron, town, Base Commander, etc.”
“Griffin, Capps and I were sent to Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, Stalag Luft IV; and moved to Stalag Luft I. Capps left Stalag Luft IV 30-31 January 1945 with 4-5,000 POWs who walked (snow waist deep) until the first week of May 1945. I saw him at Camp Lucky Strike after we were liberated. Griffin and I were sent from Stalag IV to Stalag I by railroad freight cars. We had it made.
Bentcliff Crew
1st/Lt. Clifford J Bentcliff KIA Pilot
1st/Lt. Charles L Gempel Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Lowell A. Fiskum Navigator KIA
1st/Lt. Louis S. Celentano Bombardier KIA
1st/Lt. Chester L. Barefoot Pilotage-Navigator KIA
T/Sgt. Lester A. Griffin Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Gene E.Maschmeyer Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Clint J. Fuller Jr. Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Ralph W. Capps Gunner POW
Sgt. Raul Garza Gunner KIA
S/Sgt John J. Downey III Gunner KIA
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# O-815806
Awards:Awards: Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
MACR #10139
Target: Hamburg, Germany
Mission Date: 30-Oct-44
Serial Number: #44-10523
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-T
Aircraft Name:
Location: vicinity of Hamburg
Cause:prop wash cases loss of control
Crew of 11 8KIA 3POW
Due to weather conditions at the IP and interference by preceding Wings, our formation integrity was broken, forcing 19 aircraft to bomb the Hamburg Oil Refinery by PFF and eight others to attack Uterson, Germany. No enemy aircraft were encountered, flak at the target was heavy but
inaccurate. One 506th Squadron aircraft did not return, with flak being suspected as the cause.
MACR #10139 states, in part, “Immediately after bombing, at 1318 hours, in vicinity of Hamburg, this aircraft went into a very steep bank. Heavy flak was encountered at this time.
Aircraft came out of the 90-degree bank and was last observed flying apparently under control on 180-degree heading. Poor visibility, due to high clouds, made further sightings impossible.
No chutes were seen.” (Wrong aircraft?)
Lester Griffin, engineer, said that three men survived: Fuller, Capps, and himself. “We were a radar crew and flew only in bad weather. We were on our 23rd mission. The plane exploded, knocking or blowing me out, and I came down by parachute after regaining consciousness. I am writing this letter from the V.A. Hospital in Gainsville.”
Further information was not possible as Sgt. Griffin died in 1983.
Sgt. Clint Fuller sent other brief statements,“Bentcliff, Gempel, Fiskum, Barefoot, Celentano, Maschmeyer, Downey and a man of Mexican descent (Garza), went down with the plane. Ralph W. Capps and I bailed out over Hamburg, but I don’t know how Lester Griffin managed to get out.
“We flew into a heavy front while leading the high, right squadron. Soup was so thick that we had to fly on instruments. Someone crossed over in front of us, with the prop wash flipping us over, and the plane spun into the ground from approximately 28,000 feet.
“On the contrary, our plane did not explode – it hit the deck. Neither was it a radar ship. The radio operator, Maschmeyer, froze, apparently from shock, and would not bail out. I had to climb over him in order to get to the catwalk in the bomb bay. On this mission, I was riding the top turret and that is why I had to fight my way past the radio operator. Both Barefoot and Garza were new to our crew. Barefoot was riding the nose turret in order to complete the final mission. We did drop our bombs, but only to get rid of them. We saw no fighters or flak! In my opinion, there was no explosion as the German interrogator discussed our tail markings, base, Group, Squadron, town, Base Commander, etc.”
“Griffin, Capps and I were sent to Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, Stalag Luft IV; and moved to Stalag Luft I. Capps left Stalag Luft IV 30-31 January 1945 with 4-5,000 POWs who walked (snow waist deep) until the first week of May 1945. I saw him at Camp Lucky Strike after we were liberated. Griffin and I were sent from Stalag IV to Stalag I by railroad freight cars. We had it made.
Bentcliff Crew
1st/Lt. Clifford J Bentcliff KIA Pilot
1st/Lt. Charles L Gempel Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Lowell A. Fiskum Navigator KIA
1st/Lt. Louis S. Celentano Bombardier KIA
1st/Lt. Chester L. Barefoot Pilotage-Navigator KIA
T/Sgt. Lester A. Griffin Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Gene E.Maschmeyer Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Clint J. Fuller Jr. Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Ralph W. Capps Gunner POW
Sgt. Raul Garza Gunner KIA
S/Sgt John J. Downey III Gunner KIA
Pilot 1st/Lt. Clifford J Bentcliff KIA
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# O-815806
Awards:Awards: Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
MACR #10139
Target: Hamburg, Germany
Mission Date: 30-Oct-44
Serial Number: #44-10523
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-T
Aircraft Name:
Location: vicinity of Hamburg
Cause:prop wash cases loss of control
Crew of 11 8KIA 3POW
Due to weather conditions at the IP and interference by preceding Wings, our formation integrity was broken, forcing 19 aircraft to bomb the Hamburg Oil Refinery by PFF and eight others to attack Uterson, Germany. No enemy aircraft were encountered, flak at the target was heavy but
inaccurate. One 506th Squadron aircraft did not return, with flak being suspected as the cause.
MACR #10139 states, in part, “Immediately after bombing, at 1318 hours, in vicinity of Hamburg, this aircraft went into a very steep bank. Heavy flak was encountered at this time.
Aircraft came out of the 90-degree bank and was last observed flying apparently under control on 180-degree heading. Poor visibility, due to high clouds, made further sightings impossible.
No chutes were seen.” (Wrong aircraft?)
Lester Griffin, engineer, said that three men survived: Fuller, Capps, and himself. “We were a radar crew and flew only in bad weather. We were on our 23rd mission. The plane exploded, knocking or blowing me out, and I came down by parachute after regaining consciousness. I am writing this letter from the V.A. Hospital in Gainsville.”
Further information was not possible as Sgt. Griffin died in 1983.
Sgt. Clint Fuller sent other brief statements,“Bentcliff, Gempel, Fiskum, Barefoot, Celentano, Maschmeyer, Downey and a man of Mexican descent (Garza), went down with the plane. Ralph W. Capps and I bailed out over Hamburg, but I don’t know how Lester Griffin managed to get out.
“We flew into a heavy front while leading the high, right squadron. Soup was so thick that we had to fly on instruments. Someone crossed over in front of us, with the prop wash flipping us over, and the plane spun into the ground from approximately 28,000 feet.
“On the contrary, our plane did not explode – it hit the deck. Neither was it a radar ship. The radio operator, Maschmeyer, froze, apparently from shock, and would not bail out. I had to climb over him in order to get to the catwalk in the bomb bay. On this mission, I was riding the top turret and that is why I had to fight my way past the radio operator. Both Barefoot and Garza were new to our crew. Barefoot was riding the nose turret in order to complete the final mission. We did drop our bombs, but only to get rid of them. We saw no fighters or flak! In my opinion, there was no explosion as the German interrogator discussed our tail markings, base, Group, Squadron, town, Base Commander, etc.”
“Griffin, Capps and I were sent to Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, Stalag Luft IV; and moved to Stalag Luft I. Capps left Stalag Luft IV 30-31 January 1945 with 4-5,000 POWs who walked (snow waist deep) until the first week of May 1945. I saw him at Camp Lucky Strike after we were liberated. Griffin and I were sent from Stalag IV to Stalag I by railroad freight cars. We had it made.
Bentcliff Crew
1st/Lt. Clifford J Bentcliff KIA Pilot
1st/Lt. Charles L Gempel Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Lowell A. Fiskum Navigator KIA
1st/Lt. Louis S. Celentano Bombardier KIA
1st/Lt. Chester L. Barefoot Pilotage-Navigator KIA
T/Sgt. Lester A. Griffin Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Gene E.Maschmeyer Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Clint J. Fuller Jr. Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Ralph W. Capps Gunner POW
Sgt. Raul Garza Gunner KIA
S/Sgt John J. Downey III Gunner KIA
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Squadron: 506th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# O-815806
Awards:Awards: Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
MACR #10139
Target: Hamburg, Germany
Mission Date: 30-Oct-44
Serial Number: #44-10523
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: Bar-T
Aircraft Name:
Location: vicinity of Hamburg
Cause:prop wash cases loss of control
Crew of 11 8KIA 3POW
Due to weather conditions at the IP and interference by preceding Wings, our formation integrity was broken, forcing 19 aircraft to bomb the Hamburg Oil Refinery by PFF and eight others to attack Uterson, Germany. No enemy aircraft were encountered, flak at the target was heavy but
inaccurate. One 506th Squadron aircraft did not return, with flak being suspected as the cause.
MACR #10139 states, in part, “Immediately after bombing, at 1318 hours, in vicinity of Hamburg, this aircraft went into a very steep bank. Heavy flak was encountered at this time.
Aircraft came out of the 90-degree bank and was last observed flying apparently under control on 180-degree heading. Poor visibility, due to high clouds, made further sightings impossible.
No chutes were seen.” (Wrong aircraft?)
Lester Griffin, engineer, said that three men survived: Fuller, Capps, and himself. “We were a radar crew and flew only in bad weather. We were on our 23rd mission. The plane exploded, knocking or blowing me out, and I came down by parachute after regaining consciousness. I am writing this letter from the V.A. Hospital in Gainsville.”
Further information was not possible as Sgt. Griffin died in 1983.
Sgt. Clint Fuller sent other brief statements,“Bentcliff, Gempel, Fiskum, Barefoot, Celentano, Maschmeyer, Downey and a man of Mexican descent (Garza), went down with the plane. Ralph W. Capps and I bailed out over Hamburg, but I don’t know how Lester Griffin managed to get out.
“We flew into a heavy front while leading the high, right squadron. Soup was so thick that we had to fly on instruments. Someone crossed over in front of us, with the prop wash flipping us over, and the plane spun into the ground from approximately 28,000 feet.
“On the contrary, our plane did not explode – it hit the deck. Neither was it a radar ship. The radio operator, Maschmeyer, froze, apparently from shock, and would not bail out. I had to climb over him in order to get to the catwalk in the bomb bay. On this mission, I was riding the top turret and that is why I had to fight my way past the radio operator. Both Barefoot and Garza were new to our crew. Barefoot was riding the nose turret in order to complete the final mission. We did drop our bombs, but only to get rid of them. We saw no fighters or flak! In my opinion, there was no explosion as the German interrogator discussed our tail markings, base, Group, Squadron, town, Base Commander, etc.”
“Griffin, Capps and I were sent to Dulag Luft, Frankfurt, Stalag Luft IV; and moved to Stalag Luft I. Capps left Stalag Luft IV 30-31 January 1945 with 4-5,000 POWs who walked (snow waist deep) until the first week of May 1945. I saw him at Camp Lucky Strike after we were liberated. Griffin and I were sent from Stalag IV to Stalag I by railroad freight cars. We had it made.
Bentcliff Crew
1st/Lt. Clifford J Bentcliff KIA Pilot
1st/Lt. Charles L Gempel Co Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. Lowell A. Fiskum Navigator KIA
1st/Lt. Louis S. Celentano Bombardier KIA
1st/Lt. Chester L. Barefoot Pilotage-Navigator KIA
T/Sgt. Lester A. Griffin Engineer POW
T/Sgt. Gene E.Maschmeyer Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Clint J. Fuller Jr. Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Ralph W. Capps Gunner POW
Sgt. Raul Garza Gunner KIA
S/Sgt John J. Downey III Gunner KIA
Inscription
1LT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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