15th Army Air Forces; WWII
15th Army Air Forces; WWII

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Operations October 1944

885TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) SPECIAL OFFICE OF THE OPERATIONS OFFICER APO 520 11 October 1944.

STATEMENT

  1. B-24J A/C No 42-40697, 'Lady Irene', departed its base 4 October 1944 at 1545 hours on a secret operational mission. No word was received after its departure. For reasons of security, A/C operating in this Squadron maintain radio silence, unless in an emergency, until after the A/C has left the target area and has set course for its home base.
     
  2. Continued efforts were made during the night to establish S/W contact with the A/C but no radio contact was ever established. An hour after the A/C was overdue, air-sea rescue units were notified of its course to and from the target. Immediately after air-sea rescue units were notified, a search was dispatched and continued throughout the day.
     
  3. In view of the fact that no message or distress signals were received, it is the opinion of this Headquarters that the A/C was shot down or crashed into a mountain in the target area.
     
  4. The members of the crew of the missing A/C were as follows:
     

Crew Position Name RANK ASN Pilot Bloom, Charles H. Captain O-427013 Co-Pilot Wilson, John N. 2nd. Lt. O-825534 Navigator Felder, Irving D. 2nd. Lt. O-725155 Bombardier Freeport, Ralph M. 2nd. Lt. O-765281 Engineer Grochalg, Francis J. Cpl. 35972521 Radio Operator Blackwell, Arthur E. Cpl. 35656950 Gunner Carasco, Isaac E. Cpl. 35303409 Gunner Savage, Carroll [NMI] Cpl. 38533959 Gunner Garrett, Aubrey P. Cpl. 38382351 Dispatcher Ferguson, James J. S/Sgt. 6931355

(Also three (3) agents were aboard the A/C to be dropped on the target. These men were O.S.S. personnel and all details concerning them will be reported by O.S.S.)

HERBERT C. HANSON, Captain, AC Operations Officer.

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885TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) SPECIAL OFFICE OF THE OPERATIONS OFFICER APO 520 22 October 1944.

STATEMENT

  1. B-24J A/C No 42-51778 departed its base 16 October 1944 at 1352 hours on a secret operational mission. No word was received from the A/C after its departure. For reasons of security, A/C operating in this Squadron maintain radio silence, unless in an emergency, until after the A/C has left the target area and has set course for its home base.
     
  2. Continued efforts were made during the night to establish S/W contact with the A/C but no radio contact was ever established. An hour after the A/C was overdue, air-sea rescue units were notified of its course to and from the target. Local air-sea rescue also notified all sector controls to be on the alert for any signal or message from the missing A/C.
     
  3. In view of the fact that no message or distress signals were received, it is the opinion of this Headquarters that the A/C was shot down or crashed into a mountain in the target area.
     
  4. The members of the crew of the missing A/C were as follows:
     

Crew Position Name RANK ASN Pilot Solomon, Jerome L. 1st. Lt. O-499435 Co-Pilot Venters, Travers R. 2nd. Lt. O-827094 Navigator Weisser, Solomon 2nd. Lt. O-725904 Bombardier Breucher, John H. 2nd. Lt. O-691631 Engineer Bias, Roger Sgt. 17854329 Radio Operator Deroux, Robert D. Sgt. 35979771 Gunner Goldie, William W. Sgt. 36697371 Gunner Marino, Thomas V. Sgt. 13170789 Gunner Gearty, Chester L. Sgt. 31429505

HERBERT C. HANSON, Captain, Air Corps, Operations Officer.