Today's 95th Bomb Group Fact: 95th B-17 was the last Eighth Air Force bomber to be Lost in Europe in WWII

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