US Army Air Corps WW II
Pilot 1st/Lt. George L. Bridson SWISS-INT
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 578th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #
Awards:
Target: MUNICH Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #07497
Date Lost: 11-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-95033
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "X-Bar"
Aircraft Name: "SILVER CHIEF" 16th Mission
Location: Switzerland
Cause: Crew of 10 SWISS-INT
The bombing options for this target were two, the airfield if visual bombing could be conducted, or the marshalling yards if the target area weather necessitated PFF bombing. At 0500 and 0600 hours, (24) crews were given briefing and at 0825 take-offs began. A total of (19) ships went over the target dropping (112) 1000# GPs on the marshalling yards because No fighter aircraft were encountered but flak was intense which accounted for the loss of two crews who may have landed in Switzerland. From the 578th in ship #033, First Lieutenant G. L. Bridson's crew was last seen at 1245 hours after target with #4 engine feathered, dropping back out of formation, and being heard to report on radio that they would try to make Switzerland. The ship was last seen being escorted by friendly fighters in that direction.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning eye-witness report (Lt.Cheek, crew Pilot, 578th) stated the ship had dropped out of formation after dropping bombs with one propeller feathered; that the Pilot (Bridson) had radioed to say they would try to make it back; and this aircraft was then being escorted by friendly fighters when last seen. A survivor's statement later reported that the crew had landed safely at Altenrhein airfield in Switzerland and no member had been injured; and that their plane had been hit over the target (presumably by AA fire) at about 1200 hours, altitude 26,000 feet while they were flying as Lead ship of the second element, leading the 578th Bomb Squadron.
In an account written long after the war, copilot James Green recalled that at the exact instant the bombs dropped, they caught a direct hit in the left outboard engine. From an altitude of 24,000 feet they went right down through the following formation, scattering airplanes in a desperate attempt to avoid collisions. He and the pilot finally pulled the ship out of the dive and got to level flight at 18,000 feet. An interphone check revealed that everyone in the crew was all right. Engineer Ashcraft then reported that they were losing fuel from the left wing tanks. On three engines, they could not keep up with the formation and were soon alone in the sky. To make matters worse, the radios slowly faded out so they could not call for help or even talk to each other, pilot Bridson turned the aircraft toward Switzerland. Navigator White assured the pilots they were over the western end of Lake Constance and that the small grass airfield they had been briefed about would be at the eastern end of the lake and on the Austrian border. They circled down through the hole in the clouds only to be met with anti-aircraft fire. Luckily, it stopped before the plane or crew were hit. As they approached the landing field, it became apparent that it was too short. According to Mr. Green, "With full flaps and power off, we nipped the fence at the edge of the field and touched down. It was instantly obvious that we were about to end up in Austria unless we could stop, and soon. George yelled for help on the controls to raise the nose wheel and then slam it down with enough force to collapse the gear and let the nose of the plane dig into the soft ground. This we did but it took two or three tries before the gear finally broke. The nose started plowing a furrow and slowing us almost to a stop, but not before the forward part of the nose section ended up just across the border into Austria!
The "SILVER CHIEF" crew
1st/Lt. George L. Bridson Pilot
2nd/Lt. James A. Green Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Ralph L. White Navigator
2nd/Lt. William W. Willemin Bombardier
T/Sgt. Blaine Ashcraft Engineer
T/Sgt. Umberto Paolucci Radio Op.
1st/Lt. Santo Italia Gunner
S/Sgt. James B. Seery Gunner
S/Sgt. Jacob A. Stafford Gunner
S/Sgt. George Powers Gunner
Pilot 1st/Lt. George L. Bridson SWISS-INT
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 578th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #
Awards:
Target: MUNICH Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #07497
Date Lost: 11-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-95033
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "X-Bar"
Aircraft Name: "SILVER CHIEF" 16th Mission
Location: Switzerland
Cause: Crew of 10 SWISS-INT
The bombing options for this target were two, the airfield if visual bombing could be conducted, or the marshalling yards if the target area weather necessitated PFF bombing. At 0500 and 0600 hours, (24) crews were given briefing and at 0825 take-offs began. A total of (19) ships went over the target dropping (112) 1000# GPs on the marshalling yards because No fighter aircraft were encountered but flak was intense which accounted for the loss of two crews who may have landed in Switzerland. From the 578th in ship #033, First Lieutenant G. L. Bridson's crew was last seen at 1245 hours after target with #4 engine feathered, dropping back out of formation, and being heard to report on radio that they would try to make Switzerland. The ship was last seen being escorted by friendly fighters in that direction.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning eye-witness report (Lt.Cheek, crew Pilot, 578th) stated the ship had dropped out of formation after dropping bombs with one propeller feathered; that the Pilot (Bridson) had radioed to say they would try to make it back; and this aircraft was then being escorted by friendly fighters when last seen. A survivor's statement later reported that the crew had landed safely at Altenrhein airfield in Switzerland and no member had been injured; and that their plane had been hit over the target (presumably by AA fire) at about 1200 hours, altitude 26,000 feet while they were flying as Lead ship of the second element, leading the 578th Bomb Squadron.
In an account written long after the war, copilot James Green recalled that at the exact instant the bombs dropped, they caught a direct hit in the left outboard engine. From an altitude of 24,000 feet they went right down through the following formation, scattering airplanes in a desperate attempt to avoid collisions. He and the pilot finally pulled the ship out of the dive and got to level flight at 18,000 feet. An interphone check revealed that everyone in the crew was all right. Engineer Ashcraft then reported that they were losing fuel from the left wing tanks. On three engines, they could not keep up with the formation and were soon alone in the sky. To make matters worse, the radios slowly faded out so they could not call for help or even talk to each other, pilot Bridson turned the aircraft toward Switzerland. Navigator White assured the pilots they were over the western end of Lake Constance and that the small grass airfield they had been briefed about would be at the eastern end of the lake and on the Austrian border. They circled down through the hole in the clouds only to be met with anti-aircraft fire. Luckily, it stopped before the plane or crew were hit. As they approached the landing field, it became apparent that it was too short. According to Mr. Green, "With full flaps and power off, we nipped the fence at the edge of the field and touched down. It was instantly obvious that we were about to end up in Austria unless we could stop, and soon. George yelled for help on the controls to raise the nose wheel and then slam it down with enough force to collapse the gear and let the nose of the plane dig into the soft ground. This we did but it took two or three tries before the gear finally broke. The nose started plowing a furrow and slowing us almost to a stop, but not before the forward part of the nose section ended up just across the border into Austria!
The "SILVER CHIEF" crew
1st/Lt. George L. Bridson Pilot
2nd/Lt. James A. Green Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Ralph L. White Navigator
2nd/Lt. William W. Willemin Bombardier
T/Sgt. Blaine Ashcraft Engineer
T/Sgt. Umberto Paolucci Radio Op.
1st/Lt. Santo Italia Gunner
S/Sgt. James B. Seery Gunner
S/Sgt. Jacob A. Stafford Gunner
S/Sgt. George Powers Gunner
US Army Air Corps WW II
Pilot 1st/Lt. George L. Bridson SWISS-INT
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 578th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #
Awards:
Target: MUNICH Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #07497
Date Lost: 11-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-95033
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "X-Bar"
Aircraft Name: "SILVER CHIEF" 16th Mission
Location: Switzerland
Cause: Crew of 10 SWISS-INT
The bombing options for this target were two, the airfield if visual bombing could be conducted, or the marshalling yards if the target area weather necessitated PFF bombing. At 0500 and 0600 hours, (24) crews were given briefing and at 0825 take-offs began. A total of (19) ships went over the target dropping (112) 1000# GPs on the marshalling yards because No fighter aircraft were encountered but flak was intense which accounted for the loss of two crews who may have landed in Switzerland. From the 578th in ship #033, First Lieutenant G. L. Bridson's crew was last seen at 1245 hours after target with #4 engine feathered, dropping back out of formation, and being heard to report on radio that they would try to make Switzerland. The ship was last seen being escorted by friendly fighters in that direction.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning eye-witness report (Lt.Cheek, crew Pilot, 578th) stated the ship had dropped out of formation after dropping bombs with one propeller feathered; that the Pilot (Bridson) had radioed to say they would try to make it back; and this aircraft was then being escorted by friendly fighters when last seen. A survivor's statement later reported that the crew had landed safely at Altenrhein airfield in Switzerland and no member had been injured; and that their plane had been hit over the target (presumably by AA fire) at about 1200 hours, altitude 26,000 feet while they were flying as Lead ship of the second element, leading the 578th Bomb Squadron.
In an account written long after the war, copilot James Green recalled that at the exact instant the bombs dropped, they caught a direct hit in the left outboard engine. From an altitude of 24,000 feet they went right down through the following formation, scattering airplanes in a desperate attempt to avoid collisions. He and the pilot finally pulled the ship out of the dive and got to level flight at 18,000 feet. An interphone check revealed that everyone in the crew was all right. Engineer Ashcraft then reported that they were losing fuel from the left wing tanks. On three engines, they could not keep up with the formation and were soon alone in the sky. To make matters worse, the radios slowly faded out so they could not call for help or even talk to each other, pilot Bridson turned the aircraft toward Switzerland. Navigator White assured the pilots they were over the western end of Lake Constance and that the small grass airfield they had been briefed about would be at the eastern end of the lake and on the Austrian border. They circled down through the hole in the clouds only to be met with anti-aircraft fire. Luckily, it stopped before the plane or crew were hit. As they approached the landing field, it became apparent that it was too short. According to Mr. Green, "With full flaps and power off, we nipped the fence at the edge of the field and touched down. It was instantly obvious that we were about to end up in Austria unless we could stop, and soon. George yelled for help on the controls to raise the nose wheel and then slam it down with enough force to collapse the gear and let the nose of the plane dig into the soft ground. This we did but it took two or three tries before the gear finally broke. The nose started plowing a furrow and slowing us almost to a stop, but not before the forward part of the nose section ended up just across the border into Austria!
The "SILVER CHIEF" crew
1st/Lt. George L. Bridson Pilot
2nd/Lt. James A. Green Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Ralph L. White Navigator
2nd/Lt. William W. Willemin Bombardier
T/Sgt. Blaine Ashcraft Engineer
T/Sgt. Umberto Paolucci Radio Op.
1st/Lt. Santo Italia Gunner
S/Sgt. James B. Seery Gunner
S/Sgt. Jacob A. Stafford Gunner
S/Sgt. George Powers Gunner
Pilot 1st/Lt. George L. Bridson SWISS-INT
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 578th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #
Awards:
Target: MUNICH Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #07497
Date Lost: 11-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-95033
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "X-Bar"
Aircraft Name: "SILVER CHIEF" 16th Mission
Location: Switzerland
Cause: Crew of 10 SWISS-INT
The bombing options for this target were two, the airfield if visual bombing could be conducted, or the marshalling yards if the target area weather necessitated PFF bombing. At 0500 and 0600 hours, (24) crews were given briefing and at 0825 take-offs began. A total of (19) ships went over the target dropping (112) 1000# GPs on the marshalling yards because No fighter aircraft were encountered but flak was intense which accounted for the loss of two crews who may have landed in Switzerland. From the 578th in ship #033, First Lieutenant G. L. Bridson's crew was last seen at 1245 hours after target with #4 engine feathered, dropping back out of formation, and being heard to report on radio that they would try to make Switzerland. The ship was last seen being escorted by friendly fighters in that direction.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning eye-witness report (Lt.Cheek, crew Pilot, 578th) stated the ship had dropped out of formation after dropping bombs with one propeller feathered; that the Pilot (Bridson) had radioed to say they would try to make it back; and this aircraft was then being escorted by friendly fighters when last seen. A survivor's statement later reported that the crew had landed safely at Altenrhein airfield in Switzerland and no member had been injured; and that their plane had been hit over the target (presumably by AA fire) at about 1200 hours, altitude 26,000 feet while they were flying as Lead ship of the second element, leading the 578th Bomb Squadron.
In an account written long after the war, copilot James Green recalled that at the exact instant the bombs dropped, they caught a direct hit in the left outboard engine. From an altitude of 24,000 feet they went right down through the following formation, scattering airplanes in a desperate attempt to avoid collisions. He and the pilot finally pulled the ship out of the dive and got to level flight at 18,000 feet. An interphone check revealed that everyone in the crew was all right. Engineer Ashcraft then reported that they were losing fuel from the left wing tanks. On three engines, they could not keep up with the formation and were soon alone in the sky. To make matters worse, the radios slowly faded out so they could not call for help or even talk to each other, pilot Bridson turned the aircraft toward Switzerland. Navigator White assured the pilots they were over the western end of Lake Constance and that the small grass airfield they had been briefed about would be at the eastern end of the lake and on the Austrian border. They circled down through the hole in the clouds only to be met with anti-aircraft fire. Luckily, it stopped before the plane or crew were hit. As they approached the landing field, it became apparent that it was too short. According to Mr. Green, "With full flaps and power off, we nipped the fence at the edge of the field and touched down. It was instantly obvious that we were about to end up in Austria unless we could stop, and soon. George yelled for help on the controls to raise the nose wheel and then slam it down with enough force to collapse the gear and let the nose of the plane dig into the soft ground. This we did but it took two or three tries before the gear finally broke. The nose started plowing a furrow and slowing us almost to a stop, but not before the forward part of the nose section ended up just across the border into Austria!
The "SILVER CHIEF" crew
1st/Lt. George L. Bridson Pilot
2nd/Lt. James A. Green Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Ralph L. White Navigator
2nd/Lt. William W. Willemin Bombardier
T/Sgt. Blaine Ashcraft Engineer
T/Sgt. Umberto Paolucci Radio Op.
1st/Lt. Santo Italia Gunner
S/Sgt. James B. Seery Gunner
S/Sgt. Jacob A. Stafford Gunner
S/Sgt. George Powers Gunner
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