2Lt. Guy J. McLaughlin, Jr. was a Pilot with the 12th Air Force; 57th Bombardment Wing; 321st Bombardment Group; 445th Bombardment Squadron; stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO).

His Hometown was Rochester, New York.

Monday, 19 July 1943
445th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order 94/mission 93) Group Mission # 94: 72 B25’s (18 of the 445th) took off to bomb Ciampino Airdrome near Rome. This is the largest formation ever sent out by the Group to date. 108 x 500 lb. demolitions were dropped by the 445th from 9000 ft. Bursts began at the railroad tracks on the southwest side and continued across buildings and both fields. Hits were made on the hangars, revetments and among parked airplanes. Numerous fires were observed on the field and in the housing area. The target coverage was excellent. Ten to twelve anti-aircraft made head-on and tail attacks as the formation left the target. One enemy aircraft was destroyed by the escort, two enemy aircraft collided. A huge fire was seen on the east side of Rome. The flames reached a height of 500 ft. The flak at the target was moderate, intense and accurate. That received from Practica di Mare was intense, heavy, tracking and very accurate. Lt. McLaughlin and his crew were seen to go down about 5 miles southwest of the target as a result of a direct flak hit. Eye-witness accounts state that the right engine exploded. The ship stopped momentarily, rolled over and spun in. It crashed into a ravine. It was then seen to explode. From all accounts, no one bailed out. The crew consisted of Lt. McLaughlin, pilot; Lt. Neck, co-pilot; S/Sgt. Springer, bombardier; S/Sgt. Connors, engineer; S/Sgt. Binkowski, turret gunner; T/Sgt. Gregory, radio-gunner. Sgt. Smith claimed an MA 202 when five of them attacked his ship in formation from 3 o’clock.

445th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 248: The aircraft was seen to go down about five miles southwest of Ciampino Airdrome, between the target and the sea.

A/C B-25; Serial No. 41-13211; MACR-258; shot down

THE CREW:
P McLaughlin, Guy J., Jr., 2Lt - KIA
CP Neck, John S., 2Lt - KIA
N None
B Springer, Richard L., S/Sgt - KIA
E Conners, Howard J., S/Sgt - KIA
R Gregory, John N., T/Sgt - KIA
G Binkowski, Stephen J., S/Sgt - KIA
F None

Eyewitness Account: Littleton, Willis W., S/Sgt, engineer-gunner, 445th BS

20 July 1944 “The right engine exploded and the wing tore off” said S/Sgt. Willie W. Littleton, engineer-gunner of the plane in no. 3 position of the second element, behind Lt. McLaughlin’s plane (no. 3 position of the first element). “The ship faltered and then rolled over, spiraling to the ground. I watched the ship from the time it was hit until it crashed into a ravine and then exploded. Nearby, I saw a parachute lying half opened, probably thrown from the plane after the crash”.

Eyewitness Account: Arvo, Nillo Richard, S/Sgt, gunner, bombardier, 445th BS

20 July 1944 Said S/Sgt. Nillo R. Arvo, turret-gunner of the plane flying no. 2 position in the first element, just opposite Lt. McLaughlin’s ship, “His right engine exploded and the plane rolled on its back with the nose down. The engine fell out and the wing tore off barely missing my turret dome as it passed overhead. The life raft and cushion fell out and the plane headed toward the ground spiraling. Because of two passes made by Macchi 202’s, I was unable to watch the plane fall all the way to earth. Later, I saw black smoke on the ground where I believe the aircraft hit”.

Guy J McLaughlin, Jr