This is an amazing story in the history of the 95th. The last 8th AF aircraft lost in World War Two in Europe was a B-17G from the 95th Bomb Group. It was lost on the last day of the war in Europe, May 7, 1945, while on a Chowhound mission to drop food to starving people in Holland. The plane had a full crew plus additional men from the 95th Photography section, including the photo editor of the 95th's yearbook Contrails. Only two men survived when the plane ditched in the icy North Sea.
In addition to the regular crew, the following men from the base photo section were on board: S/Sgt. Edward H. Bubolz; T/Sgt. Robert W. Korber; S/Sgt. Gerald Lane; Sgt. Joseph R. Repiscack; and PFC George L. Waltari.
Lionel N. Sceurman Crew - 334th Sqn BACK ROW: Al Space (crew chief), Gano McPherson (radio operator), Norbert Kuper (armorer / gunner), William Lankford (tail gunner), John Keller (ball turret gunner)
FRONT ROW: Anthony Braidic (bombardier--not on aircraft that day), Russell Cook (navigator), James Schwartz (co-pilot--survived), Lionel N. Sceurman (pilot)
Not pictured is togglier David Condon, who replaced Braidic on this mission. Condon survived after parachuting from the plane. There is some doubt as to whether copilot James Schwartz was on the aircraft, though he is officially listed as flying the mission.
Photo supplied by William Cook ( brother of Russell Cook )
44-8640 B17-G
This aircraft was assigned to the 388th BG, Knettishall 4/12/1944.It transferred to the 334th BS 95th BG 5/12/1944. Piloted by L. Sceurman, it went missing on “Operation Chowhound” 7/5/1945. It crashed into the sea with the loss of 11 crew, two survived, returning to duty.This was the last aircraft of the Eighth Airforce to be lost in World War Two
This aircraft was assigned to the 388th BG, Knettishall 4/12/1944.It transferred to the 334th BS 95th BG 5/12/1944. Piloted by L. Sceurman, it went missing on “Operation Chowhound” 7/5/1945. It crashed into the sea with the loss of 11 crew, two survived, returning to duty.This was the last aircraft of the Eighth Airforce to be lost in World War Two
5 comments:
Another bit of information! I am looking for information about my cousin S/Sgt Edw Bubolz. The copy of the airport accident report list Edward as Left Waist Gunner. Here he is noted as a passenger from base photo section. This makes some sense because he did not show up in any of the crew pictures on the 95th website. If anyone has any other information on Edward, I would appreciate hearing from you.
In regard to the comment about whether the co-pilot was on the plane, the accident report includes a signed statement about the incident.
It's interesting trying to gather information to find out what may have happened.
Thanks, Mark.
Mark, yes, I have read the signed statement. It is a very mysterious story. I have a living eyewitness who swears there was only one survivor,and the facts tend to corroborate that.
I guess we'll never know. I have a whole chapter on this in my upcoming book. By the way, the plane was carrying a number of men from the base photo section that day.
~rob
Thanks for the reply Rob. I guess that we wouldn't know. The statements seem very "sterile", but then I don't know much about this sort of thing. I am very interested in your book when it is finished. Please let me know how I can find it.
Thanks, Mark
Hi Mark. The book will be out next year. We are still negotiating with publishers, but the book is done. I will keep you posted, or if you follow this blog, you will know. :)
One of the other photo section men to be killed on the Chowhound flight was the photo editor of the group's yearbook.
rob
Thanks Rob, I'll stay tuned. Mark
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