Navigator 2nd/Lt. John J. Caulfield KIA
Hometown: Wife, Joanna Chicago, Illinois
Squadron:576th BS 392nd Bomb Group
Service # O-757769
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. William T. Kamenitsa POW
Target: Berlin
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:#04476
Date Lost: 29-Apr-44
Serial Number: #41-100371
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "F"
Aircraft Name:(NO NICKNAME) 14th Mission
Location: 1 kilometer east of Meitze Germany
Cause: fighters and mid-air collision 3KIA 5POW
The Group losses on this raid would be the second heaviest ever encountered in its combat history in terms of men killed and planes lost-next only to those suffered at Friedrichshafen on 18 March 1944. On this mission, (18) aircrews were briefed between 0400-0430 hours with the 577th and Lieutenant Rapenport as Bombardier leading. Crews began take-offs at 0725 on what was to be a mission encounter of grave misfortunes due to heavy enemy fighter opposition and flak. Before the target, an estimated 50 single engine fighters hit the group, consisting of FW-190 and ME-109 aircraft, attacking in double line-abreast and making a level pass through the Group's formation.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Eye-witness accounts state: "...Group was attacked by fighters at 1102; ship #062, upon being hit, swerved into ship #371 and part of (this plane's) left wing came off and ship went down out of control; no chutes en". The collision of these aircraft occurred during the first wave attacks of enemy fighters as the formation was inbound over the Zuider-Zee, well before the target area. (Note: The fate of #371 was somewhat confused in this eye-witness report as learned later inasmuch as the Pilots did manage to crash land this ship finally in enemy territory, as later crew member accounts relate).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: Lt Kamenitsa, the Pilot, in a subsequent report after his POW release stated his crew was on Mission #10 this date and after the fighter attacks (and mid-air collision with ship #062), he was tempting to return to England but was forced to crash land the ship about (23) miles north of Hannover, Germany. He stated further than no member had to bail out this aircraft and all members were aboard at crash landing time, everyone calm, but that the Co-Pilot and Engineer were slightly injured and the rear gunners including all turret gunners were in good condition. Kamenitsa had rendered this statement much later from his Denton, Texas address. He also stated regarding one of the dead crew men - the Navigator, Lt Caulfield - that they were attempting to make a cloud bank and navigate back towards England, and had directed the Navigator to come up on the flight deck with his maps, also noting that Lt. Caulfield was not injured at this time. He reported further that later, the Germans had found the maps in the wreckage and showed them to the Pilot, but that he (Kamenitsa) had been unconscious for about (30) minutes after the crash landing. The report stated that it was certain that the Navigator had not bailed out prior to the crash. Lt. Caulfield, it was noted, was on his 12th combat mission. The German Report from Airfield Command A23, #KU1716, noted the crash landing site of this plane as (1) kilometer east of Meitze and (23) kilometers north of Hannover; that the ship was 30% damaged; and that (3) dead crew men were found in the wreckage with (7) others being captured on the spot. Lt. Caulfield, Lt. Miller and S/Sgt Trivison were correctly identified and named as the dead members in this report. Another enemy report of 30 April at 1555 hours from the same headquarters stated that (15) other American Air Force crew members had been captured on the day prior,' these men having bailed out around 1130 hours, 29 April, and captured in the same area as the Kamenitsa crew survivors. (Ed's note: Presumably some of these airmen were from the same 392nd Group formations lost this day after the initial enemy fighter attacks inbound).
BURIAL RECORDS: The local German Reports, while not precisely indicating such, inferred that the (3) dead crew members of this crew were initially buried in the village cemetery plot near Meitze. U.S. overseas National Cemetery records reflect the following on re-burial of these men, all (3) in the ARDENNES Cemetery near Liege, Belgium: Lt Caulfield in Grave B-i 9-5 and awards of an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart; Lt Miller in Grave D-l 6-12 and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, but no Purple Heart; and S/Sgt Trivison, Grave D-22-1 with those awards and the Purple Heart.
Crew of #41-100371
2nd/Lt. William T. Kamenitsa Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. George E. Graham Jr. Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. John J. Caulfield Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Gene A. Miller Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Edwin J. Heater Engineer POW
Sgt. Archie B. Young POW
S/Sgt. Joseph R. Trivison Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Lark C. Morgan Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Jack J. Krejci Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Oliver R. Guillot Gunner POW
Hometown: Wife, Joanna Chicago, Illinois
Squadron:576th BS 392nd Bomb Group
Service # O-757769
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. William T. Kamenitsa POW
Target: Berlin
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:#04476
Date Lost: 29-Apr-44
Serial Number: #41-100371
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "F"
Aircraft Name:(NO NICKNAME) 14th Mission
Location: 1 kilometer east of Meitze Germany
Cause: fighters and mid-air collision 3KIA 5POW
The Group losses on this raid would be the second heaviest ever encountered in its combat history in terms of men killed and planes lost-next only to those suffered at Friedrichshafen on 18 March 1944. On this mission, (18) aircrews were briefed between 0400-0430 hours with the 577th and Lieutenant Rapenport as Bombardier leading. Crews began take-offs at 0725 on what was to be a mission encounter of grave misfortunes due to heavy enemy fighter opposition and flak. Before the target, an estimated 50 single engine fighters hit the group, consisting of FW-190 and ME-109 aircraft, attacking in double line-abreast and making a level pass through the Group's formation.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Eye-witness accounts state: "...Group was attacked by fighters at 1102; ship #062, upon being hit, swerved into ship #371 and part of (this plane's) left wing came off and ship went down out of control; no chutes en". The collision of these aircraft occurred during the first wave attacks of enemy fighters as the formation was inbound over the Zuider-Zee, well before the target area. (Note: The fate of #371 was somewhat confused in this eye-witness report as learned later inasmuch as the Pilots did manage to crash land this ship finally in enemy territory, as later crew member accounts relate).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: Lt Kamenitsa, the Pilot, in a subsequent report after his POW release stated his crew was on Mission #10 this date and after the fighter attacks (and mid-air collision with ship #062), he was tempting to return to England but was forced to crash land the ship about (23) miles north of Hannover, Germany. He stated further than no member had to bail out this aircraft and all members were aboard at crash landing time, everyone calm, but that the Co-Pilot and Engineer were slightly injured and the rear gunners including all turret gunners were in good condition. Kamenitsa had rendered this statement much later from his Denton, Texas address. He also stated regarding one of the dead crew men - the Navigator, Lt Caulfield - that they were attempting to make a cloud bank and navigate back towards England, and had directed the Navigator to come up on the flight deck with his maps, also noting that Lt. Caulfield was not injured at this time. He reported further that later, the Germans had found the maps in the wreckage and showed them to the Pilot, but that he (Kamenitsa) had been unconscious for about (30) minutes after the crash landing. The report stated that it was certain that the Navigator had not bailed out prior to the crash. Lt. Caulfield, it was noted, was on his 12th combat mission. The German Report from Airfield Command A23, #KU1716, noted the crash landing site of this plane as (1) kilometer east of Meitze and (23) kilometers north of Hannover; that the ship was 30% damaged; and that (3) dead crew men were found in the wreckage with (7) others being captured on the spot. Lt. Caulfield, Lt. Miller and S/Sgt Trivison were correctly identified and named as the dead members in this report. Another enemy report of 30 April at 1555 hours from the same headquarters stated that (15) other American Air Force crew members had been captured on the day prior,' these men having bailed out around 1130 hours, 29 April, and captured in the same area as the Kamenitsa crew survivors. (Ed's note: Presumably some of these airmen were from the same 392nd Group formations lost this day after the initial enemy fighter attacks inbound).
BURIAL RECORDS: The local German Reports, while not precisely indicating such, inferred that the (3) dead crew members of this crew were initially buried in the village cemetery plot near Meitze. U.S. overseas National Cemetery records reflect the following on re-burial of these men, all (3) in the ARDENNES Cemetery near Liege, Belgium: Lt Caulfield in Grave B-i 9-5 and awards of an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart; Lt Miller in Grave D-l 6-12 and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, but no Purple Heart; and S/Sgt Trivison, Grave D-22-1 with those awards and the Purple Heart.
Crew of #41-100371
2nd/Lt. William T. Kamenitsa Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. George E. Graham Jr. Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. John J. Caulfield Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Gene A. Miller Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Edwin J. Heater Engineer POW
Sgt. Archie B. Young POW
S/Sgt. Joseph R. Trivison Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Lark C. Morgan Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Jack J. Krejci Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Oliver R. Guillot Gunner POW
Navigator 2nd/Lt. John J. Caulfield KIA
Hometown: Wife, Joanna Chicago, Illinois
Squadron:576th BS 392nd Bomb Group
Service # O-757769
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. William T. Kamenitsa POW
Target: Berlin
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:#04476
Date Lost: 29-Apr-44
Serial Number: #41-100371
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "F"
Aircraft Name:(NO NICKNAME) 14th Mission
Location: 1 kilometer east of Meitze Germany
Cause: fighters and mid-air collision 3KIA 5POW
The Group losses on this raid would be the second heaviest ever encountered in its combat history in terms of men killed and planes lost-next only to those suffered at Friedrichshafen on 18 March 1944. On this mission, (18) aircrews were briefed between 0400-0430 hours with the 577th and Lieutenant Rapenport as Bombardier leading. Crews began take-offs at 0725 on what was to be a mission encounter of grave misfortunes due to heavy enemy fighter opposition and flak. Before the target, an estimated 50 single engine fighters hit the group, consisting of FW-190 and ME-109 aircraft, attacking in double line-abreast and making a level pass through the Group's formation.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Eye-witness accounts state: "...Group was attacked by fighters at 1102; ship #062, upon being hit, swerved into ship #371 and part of (this plane's) left wing came off and ship went down out of control; no chutes en". The collision of these aircraft occurred during the first wave attacks of enemy fighters as the formation was inbound over the Zuider-Zee, well before the target area. (Note: The fate of #371 was somewhat confused in this eye-witness report as learned later inasmuch as the Pilots did manage to crash land this ship finally in enemy territory, as later crew member accounts relate).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: Lt Kamenitsa, the Pilot, in a subsequent report after his POW release stated his crew was on Mission #10 this date and after the fighter attacks (and mid-air collision with ship #062), he was tempting to return to England but was forced to crash land the ship about (23) miles north of Hannover, Germany. He stated further than no member had to bail out this aircraft and all members were aboard at crash landing time, everyone calm, but that the Co-Pilot and Engineer were slightly injured and the rear gunners including all turret gunners were in good condition. Kamenitsa had rendered this statement much later from his Denton, Texas address. He also stated regarding one of the dead crew men - the Navigator, Lt Caulfield - that they were attempting to make a cloud bank and navigate back towards England, and had directed the Navigator to come up on the flight deck with his maps, also noting that Lt. Caulfield was not injured at this time. He reported further that later, the Germans had found the maps in the wreckage and showed them to the Pilot, but that he (Kamenitsa) had been unconscious for about (30) minutes after the crash landing. The report stated that it was certain that the Navigator had not bailed out prior to the crash. Lt. Caulfield, it was noted, was on his 12th combat mission. The German Report from Airfield Command A23, #KU1716, noted the crash landing site of this plane as (1) kilometer east of Meitze and (23) kilometers north of Hannover; that the ship was 30% damaged; and that (3) dead crew men were found in the wreckage with (7) others being captured on the spot. Lt. Caulfield, Lt. Miller and S/Sgt Trivison were correctly identified and named as the dead members in this report. Another enemy report of 30 April at 1555 hours from the same headquarters stated that (15) other American Air Force crew members had been captured on the day prior,' these men having bailed out around 1130 hours, 29 April, and captured in the same area as the Kamenitsa crew survivors. (Ed's note: Presumably some of these airmen were from the same 392nd Group formations lost this day after the initial enemy fighter attacks inbound).
BURIAL RECORDS: The local German Reports, while not precisely indicating such, inferred that the (3) dead crew members of this crew were initially buried in the village cemetery plot near Meitze. U.S. overseas National Cemetery records reflect the following on re-burial of these men, all (3) in the ARDENNES Cemetery near Liege, Belgium: Lt Caulfield in Grave B-i 9-5 and awards of an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart; Lt Miller in Grave D-l 6-12 and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, but no Purple Heart; and S/Sgt Trivison, Grave D-22-1 with those awards and the Purple Heart.
Crew of #41-100371
2nd/Lt. William T. Kamenitsa Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. George E. Graham Jr. Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. John J. Caulfield Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Gene A. Miller Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Edwin J. Heater Engineer POW
Sgt. Archie B. Young POW
S/Sgt. Joseph R. Trivison Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Lark C. Morgan Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Jack J. Krejci Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Oliver R. Guillot Gunner POW
Hometown: Wife, Joanna Chicago, Illinois
Squadron:576th BS 392nd Bomb Group
Service # O-757769
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. William T. Kamenitsa POW
Target: Berlin
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:#04476
Date Lost: 29-Apr-44
Serial Number: #41-100371
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "F"
Aircraft Name:(NO NICKNAME) 14th Mission
Location: 1 kilometer east of Meitze Germany
Cause: fighters and mid-air collision 3KIA 5POW
The Group losses on this raid would be the second heaviest ever encountered in its combat history in terms of men killed and planes lost-next only to those suffered at Friedrichshafen on 18 March 1944. On this mission, (18) aircrews were briefed between 0400-0430 hours with the 577th and Lieutenant Rapenport as Bombardier leading. Crews began take-offs at 0725 on what was to be a mission encounter of grave misfortunes due to heavy enemy fighter opposition and flak. Before the target, an estimated 50 single engine fighters hit the group, consisting of FW-190 and ME-109 aircraft, attacking in double line-abreast and making a level pass through the Group's formation.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: Eye-witness accounts state: "...Group was attacked by fighters at 1102; ship #062, upon being hit, swerved into ship #371 and part of (this plane's) left wing came off and ship went down out of control; no chutes en". The collision of these aircraft occurred during the first wave attacks of enemy fighters as the formation was inbound over the Zuider-Zee, well before the target area. (Note: The fate of #371 was somewhat confused in this eye-witness report as learned later inasmuch as the Pilots did manage to crash land this ship finally in enemy territory, as later crew member accounts relate).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: Lt Kamenitsa, the Pilot, in a subsequent report after his POW release stated his crew was on Mission #10 this date and after the fighter attacks (and mid-air collision with ship #062), he was tempting to return to England but was forced to crash land the ship about (23) miles north of Hannover, Germany. He stated further than no member had to bail out this aircraft and all members were aboard at crash landing time, everyone calm, but that the Co-Pilot and Engineer were slightly injured and the rear gunners including all turret gunners were in good condition. Kamenitsa had rendered this statement much later from his Denton, Texas address. He also stated regarding one of the dead crew men - the Navigator, Lt Caulfield - that they were attempting to make a cloud bank and navigate back towards England, and had directed the Navigator to come up on the flight deck with his maps, also noting that Lt. Caulfield was not injured at this time. He reported further that later, the Germans had found the maps in the wreckage and showed them to the Pilot, but that he (Kamenitsa) had been unconscious for about (30) minutes after the crash landing. The report stated that it was certain that the Navigator had not bailed out prior to the crash. Lt. Caulfield, it was noted, was on his 12th combat mission. The German Report from Airfield Command A23, #KU1716, noted the crash landing site of this plane as (1) kilometer east of Meitze and (23) kilometers north of Hannover; that the ship was 30% damaged; and that (3) dead crew men were found in the wreckage with (7) others being captured on the spot. Lt. Caulfield, Lt. Miller and S/Sgt Trivison were correctly identified and named as the dead members in this report. Another enemy report of 30 April at 1555 hours from the same headquarters stated that (15) other American Air Force crew members had been captured on the day prior,' these men having bailed out around 1130 hours, 29 April, and captured in the same area as the Kamenitsa crew survivors. (Ed's note: Presumably some of these airmen were from the same 392nd Group formations lost this day after the initial enemy fighter attacks inbound).
BURIAL RECORDS: The local German Reports, while not precisely indicating such, inferred that the (3) dead crew members of this crew were initially buried in the village cemetery plot near Meitze. U.S. overseas National Cemetery records reflect the following on re-burial of these men, all (3) in the ARDENNES Cemetery near Liege, Belgium: Lt Caulfield in Grave B-i 9-5 and awards of an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart; Lt Miller in Grave D-l 6-12 and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, but no Purple Heart; and S/Sgt Trivison, Grave D-22-1 with those awards and the Purple Heart.
Crew of #41-100371
2nd/Lt. William T. Kamenitsa Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. George E. Graham Jr. Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. John J. Caulfield Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Gene A. Miller Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Edwin J. Heater Engineer POW
Sgt. Archie B. Young POW
S/Sgt. Joseph R. Trivison Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Lark C. Morgan Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Jack J. Krejci Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Oliver R. Guillot Gunner POW
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Illinois.
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