**321st BG, 448th BS, Griffith E Williams Engineer/Gunner **~~_****_~~

Friday, 10 November 1944

448th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 9852:

A/C No. 43-27805 “Desirable” (MACR-9852 – severely damaged – crashed landed near Pisa)

Pilot: Anderson, Douglas R., 1Lt – MIA, POW, returned

CoPilot: Dossey, Vernon Curtis, Capt – MIA, returned 3 Dec 44

Navigator: Luckhaupt, Robert W., 1Lt – MIA, returned

Bombardier: McKinley, Robert H., 1Lt – MIA, returned 3 Dec 44

Engineer: Williams, Griffith E., Sgt – MIA, returned

Radio Op: Holt, John A., Cpl – MIA, returned

Gunner: Hammerschmiedt, Harry E., S/Sgt – MIA, POW, returned

F:Photographer: None

Eyewitness Account: Holcombe, Dewey R., 1Lt, pilot, 448th BS

448th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF

321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF

APO # 650

Upon pealing off the target, Lieutenant Kuoni and I saw Lieutenant Anderson’s ship leaving formation with wheels and flaps in down position. The ship was losing altitude, but apparently under control. We flew with them in a general southwest heading, just west of Bologna.

Before the rest of crew bailed out, I had radio contact with Captain Dossey, who assured us that they were all okay and preparing to jump. Lieutenant Kuoni received Lieutenants Anderson’s message just before the latter left the aircraft on the last man. We are sure the airplane was empty and landed in general area twenty to thirty miles west-south-west of Bologna, and just west of the river Reno.

Our navigation was extremely difficult due to our own constantly changing direction in attempt to stay with the slow flying aircraft, because we weren’t positive of the heading of the ship when the crew left. Their altitude was about three to four thousand feet indicated.

DEWEY R. HOLCOMBE, 1st Lieut., Air Corps, Pilot.

Eyewitness Account: Kuoni, Charles F., Jr., 2Lt, pilot, 448th BS

448th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF

321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF

I had the last radio contact with ship #43-27805, piloted by Lieutenant Anderson. He made certain that all crew members had left the ship, and then contacted me by radio stating same, and that he was about to bail.

CHARLES F. KUONI, 2nd Lieut., Air Corps, Pilot.

HQ 321st BG War Diary: 44 aircraft were sent to the Ostiglia area to destroy the temporary rail bridge and a ferry terminal there. Much credit is reflected on the combat crews who participated in that raid for in spite of the intense anti-aircraft which shot down two leaders’ planes plus two other aircraft and holed a total of 30 planes, the targets were well hit with over 90 percent totals on both the bridge and terminal. At least 10 spans were already out of the bridge before our planes got there and we knocked out seven more. A total of 32 casualties were sustained one of Group’s largest tolls on any one mission.

HQ 321st BG Mission Summary (Ops Order 606/mission 606) Group Mission # 606:

Ostiglia Railroad Bridge over the Po River.

448th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 606/mission 606) Group Mission # 606: The mission for the day was the heavily defended Ostiglia railroad bridge over the Po River. Eleven planes led by Lt. Douglas R. Anderson flew as Group lead flight. The desperate and intense opposition over the target downed four (4) planes, holed twenty-six (26) other aircraft, killed four men at their posts and wounded twelve (12) other crew members in the formation of forty-four (44) aircraft but could not discourage the gallant crews. Despite the fact that his left engine was shot out at the beginning of the bomb run, Lt. Anderson courageously bore on to the bomb release point. Other 105 M.M. bursts knocked out his hydraulic system, lowering both the wheels and flaps. Still other shells destroyed the compass, shattered the crew with plexiglass, and cut one of the ruder control cables. Even though everything was against his remaining airborne he maintained the crippled ship in flight for over twenty minutes. Tall mountains in his path home necessitated the abandoning of the plane. Through Lt. Anderson’s great skill and leadership the crew parachuted to safety in the hills below Bologna. Lt. Kruse’s ship also received many hits which wounded one of the gunners and shot out the hydraulic system, half way lowering the wheels. A precision belly landing was affected at a field and all members of the crew were safely returned to the unit. Lt. Carrington also displayed his superior flying ability on this mission by bring his damaged ship back on single engine despite the painful injuries to his face. The intensity and accuracy of the enemy defenses made this one of the costliest missions flown by the squadron. Lt. Douglas R. Anderson, Captain Vernon C. Dossey, Lt. Robert W. Luckhaupt, Lt. Robert H. McKinley, Cpl. John A. Holt, Sgt. Griffith E. Williams and S/Sgt Harry E. Hammerschmiedt are MIA near Bologna. 1st Lt. Charles C. Carrington, 2nd Lt. Duane Churchill, S/Sgt. Irving J. Schaffer, Sgt. Woodward D. Pealer and S/Sgt. Nico M. Pineda were wounded in the attack.

448th BS: War Diary of: Schaffer, Irving J., S/Sgt, radio-gunner:

“Awoke 7:30AM. Very cold but clear. Stewed prunes, fresh 1/2 grapefruit, fresh fried eggs, bread, coffee. Standby on mission 9:00AM. Latrines blew over during night. Briefing at 10:00AM. Some ship at 310th damaged from wind at our field. Target RR bridge at Ostiglia. Defended. Lt Kruse pilot. Carrying 500 lb. Take off. 11:50AM. Very cold. Fair weather. Over target at 2:00PM. Intense accurate flak. Lead ship with Capt Dossey went down. Yours truly, Pealer (bombardier) Pineda (engineer) hit. Left engine shot out. Came back on single engine. Hydraulic system out. Radio out. Made crash landing at 310th. Beautiful. Everyone OK. Ship a complete wreck. Dossey and boys bailed out over Po valley. Crashed at 3:25PM. Ambulance took us back to 321st. Wounds dressed. Two other ships crash landed. Despite the shock, everybody is OK. I received a flak face laceration. Vienna sausage, sauerkraut, tomato soup, bread, upon arriving at squadron 4:30PM. Everyone inquisitive about mission. God it's good to be back. Retired 10:30PM.”

Dossey, Vernon Curtis, Capt, pilot https://www.fold3.com/page/84974073-vernon-c-dossey

Kruse, Milford E., 1Lt, pilot

Pealer, Woodward D., S/Sgt, gunner-bombardier

Pineda, Nico M., S/Sgt, engineer-gunner

John Lund (CREW CHIEF) Engineer: https://www.fold3.com/page/83365421-john-l-lund

321st BG