Saturday, 19 February 1944

446th BS War Diary: The squadron suffered a disastrous day when one of our ships was lost on the first of two missions. Lt. Brellenthin was pilot of the ill-fated plane that crashed in the water off the Anzio beach-head. Lt. Burgess was co-pilot and the other crew members were T/Sgt “Spike” Kendall, S/Sgt. Bedwell, S/Sgt Blake, S/Sgt Motika, and S/Sgt Parrish. Two other of our ships were severely damaged beyond repair. S/Sgt Martin was hospitalized because of a flak wound. This was our first day of operation from the new base.

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446th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order 254/mission 253) Group Mission # 216: Squadron Mission 179

TARGET: Troop Concentration at Map Ref. F-9037 DATE: 19 Feb 1944

Type of Bombs: 20 lb. Frags. 446th Planes: 6

Capt. Frazer, 447th Sqdn. led the formation. Target area reported well covered. Two planes were lost and one missing (Lt. Brellenthin and crew). Flak was heavy and light, intense and accurate. Fourteen planes were holed. Groups of 6/8 to 15/20 E/A attacked in pairs after leaving target. ME-109’s, FW-190’s and one ME-210 and Vacchi 202 reported—ME’s in majority. Most attacked from rear, and some ME-109’s attacked near the target after dive-bombing. Seven ME-109’s and two FW-190’s destroyed. Two ME-109’s probably destroyed. Lt. Brellenthin and crew missing. A report from a British hospital ship states that the plane crashed into the water on one wing, to avoid hitting the vessel. A life boat was lowered, but only one survivor was picked up, S/Sgt Parrish, who was unconscious, and despite artificial respiration never gained consciousness. Lt Hurley crash-landed at home base with the hydraulic system shot out and one rudder shot away. S/Sgt E.F. Martin was hit in the leg by 20mm shell fire and was hospitalized. Major Hunter came back with one rudder shot away. Lt. Walker was a spare, and returned early.

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446th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 2577:

A/C No. 41-30551 “Pink Lady” (MACR-2577 - shot down)

Pilot: Brellenthin, Harold, R., 2Lt - KIA

CoPilot: Burgess, Robert P., 2Lt - KIA

Navigator: None

Bombardier: Parrish, William W., S/Sgt - KIA

Engineer-Gunner: Motika, John F., S/Sgt - KIA

Radio Operator-Gunner: Kendall, Charles C., “Spike”, T/Sgt - KIA

Gunner: Bedwell, Joy L., S/Sgt - KIA

F (Photographer): Blake, Charles H., S/Sgt - KIA

“1. This date the body of WILLIAM W PARRISH, ASN-14128944, was brought to the Port of Naples, Italy aboard the British Hospital Carrier “ST ANDREW”. The body had been picked up following a plane crash off Anzio, Italy at approximately 0945 hours, 19 February 1944. Death was determined as due to injuries and drowning by Capt. W. V. WALLACE, R.A.M.C., Medical Officer aboard the carrier. Among the personal effects of the deceased was an insignia with 2 wings and a bomb in its center; and a piece of paper with the deceased’s name and address--Route #1, Lithonia, Georgia. Papers were not available identifying the unit and there were no identification tags on the body.

The following message was received at the Port Surgeon’s Office from A. MALCOLM, Lieut-Colonel, R.A.M.C., Officer commanding Troops, Hospital Carrier “St. Andrew”:

‘At approximately 0945 hrs on 19 Feb 44, an American bombing plane was seen to be in difficulties, with smoke coming from engines and losing height. It was headed directly for the Hospital Carrier ST ANDREW and it appeared as if it must crash in the ship.

We immediately lowered a water ambulance and succeeded in recovering one man, William W. Parrish (Believed to be the bombardier) from the water and brought him on board. Artificial respiration was persisted in for two hours, oxygen was pumped in, and injections of strychnine given, but without result. The body was brought into Naples.

It would seem that this violent turn by the pilot, which may have cost him his life, was made by him in order to avoid doing damage to the ship. I very much regret that we were unable to bring back to life the rescued airman. 19 Feby/1944.

/s/S. MALCOLM, Lt. Col., R.A.M.C.’

For the Surgeon: /s/SCOTT L. TARPLEE, Major, M.C., Executive Officer.”

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446th BS Additional Narrative: On February 19th the 446th Squadron suffered one of its most disastrous days of combat. On the first of two missions a plane piloted by Lt. Harold R. Brellenthin failed to return to its home base. Word finally reached the squadron that the plane had made a water landing off the Anzio Beach-head and that only one body had been recovered. According to a report sent by a hospital ship anchored off the beach-head, the plane had winged over in order to avert a crash with the hospital ship, the plane being at so low an altitude that a fatal crash resulted. It was apparent to the pilot that such action would have to take place in order to avoid endangering the mercy ship and that the fate of the crew was sealed with Lt. Brellenthin’s brave action. A launch was sent from the hospital ship and the body of Staff Sgt. William W. Parrish was the sole member of the crew recovered from the water. Artificial respiration failed to revive the soldier. Other members of the ill fated plane were: Lt. Robert P. Burgess, co-pilot, S/Sgt John Motika, engineer, S/Sgt Joy Bedwell, turret gunner, T/Sgt Chas. C. Kendall, radio-gunner, S/Sgt. Chas Blake, photographer, and S/Sgt William W. Parrish.

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LT. Brellenthin was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his heroic and fatal effort to avoid a direct collision with the Hospital Ship, ST. ANDREW, sacrificing his own life and the lives of his crew, to save scores of lives aboard the ship.

Harold R Brellenthin