Lost after bombs away when bombs from high group (379BG) hit this aircraft, knocking tail completely off in front of stabilizer; aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going; no chutes observed. Crashed at Marienfeld, near Berlin

Crew of B-17 #42-37781 “Silver Dollar” 8 KIA:

Pilot: 1st Lt. Merlin H. Reed, MS

Co-pilot: 2nd Lt. Bruce M. Rininsland, IA

Navigator: 1st Lt. Peter Gudyka, WA

Bombardier: 2nd Lt. John L. Heiss, NY

Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Sgt. Robert O. Johnson, CA,

Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Robert F. Wellman, MI

Waist gunner: S/Sgt. Joseph Jacobson, ND

Tail gunner: Sgt. Emmett F. Hardy, NV

POW’s:

Ball turret gunner: Arthur John Osepchook,

Waist gunner: John J. Plotz

Robert O Johnson