AR banner
Back to Top
Allied Air Forces Losses and Incidents Database.

Allied Losses Nordic RAAF Losses RNZAF Losses USAAF Battle of Britain Paradie RCAF Archiwum Polish War Graves Runnymede Kracker Luftwaffe
Check the Databases Menu for the extensive list of our databases which represent decades of original research by our Editors
Search Tips •  Researching Your Loved OneContact us via Helpdesk for research on your loved one

Names in Database A -D • Names in Database E - K • Names in Database L - R • Names in Database S -Z
If you are unsure of the spelling of the name you are searching for, you can check all the names in this database

Data derived from many sources. Corrections/Additions welcomed via Helpdesk

NOTE ON DATES: IMPORTANT: For consistency, the Date is given as the date the mission TOOK OFF since the precise time of a loss is not always certain. Take Off date is unambigous and fixed in the official records, but obviously in those cases where the incident occurred before midnight UK time, then the Take Off Date will be the same as the Incident Date. Of course, most Bomber Command missions flew through midnight, therefore a Luftwaffe claim against a plane - or a locally generated crash report - may record the incident as occurring on the day following our Take Off Date. Bear this in mind when cross-referencing to our Luftwaffe Victories by Name/Date Database and other Luftwaffe sources. In some cases other sources may quote the date following our date, using locally generated reports as their source. To add to the potential for confusion, remember to take into account a Luftwaffe recorded date will be in local time, 1 hour ahead of UK time. When we discover a validated Incident Date we change our record if necessary.



Our hosting service imposes a 4-character search minimum for database tables. We have modified our databases to support 3-character name searches.

Add 'x' to 3-character name: e.g. to search for 'coe' put 'coex' in search box, for 'fox' put 'foxx'.

If you need help, EMAIL us with name and database to search and we will perform the search manually for you.
To search on squadron, append 'Sqn'. Examples: '72Sqn' or '416Sqn'


Thanks to Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain for supplementary data and images (marked with a chequerboard device) related to the Polish Air Force, and many images courtesy of our respected colleagues Wojtek Matusiak and Robert Gretzyngier. Other images from our own archives.
Responding to requests that respects may be paid in this database to a loved one or friend, or someone you want to recognize, an In Memoriam plaque may now be placed next to any entry. See our Donate Page for details. Search for In Memoriam in this database to see examples of plaques which have been placed.

Polish Air Force personnel have a supplementary database containing more information and many more entries. Check the following:
Personel Polskich Sił Powietrznych posiada dodatkową bazę danych zawierającą więcej informacji i wiele innych wpisów. Sprawdź następujące elementy:
Archiwum: PSP 1939 -1947 Database 17,000+ Polish Air Force Entries
ON REQUEST, MORE INFORMATION CAN OFTEN BE RETRIEVED FROM OUR RESEARCH ARCHIVE ON EVERY ENTRY, AND ON NAMES YET TO BE ENTERED.

See a sample search
If you would like our team to research a family member or friend who appears in this database, contact us via the Helpdesk. We will send you instructions.


Enter Your search conditions and click Search This
Searching for a 3-character name requires special treatment

These are the results of your search:

You searched for: “"42-98004"

#Name*First NamesTitleRankRAF Equivalent RankService No.BornNationalityRoleAwardsAir ForceCommandUnitDateofIncident *See NoteAircraftTypeSerialCodeVictories (Fighters)BaseTimeMission                        Incident                        FateCommemoratedPhoto (Click to Expand)Referring Database                        Notes                        Links/Archive Reports
1 GeigerJerome HenryCaptain0-731854Age 23USAPilotDFC (US)
USAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageSurvivedThe eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
2 MuffettWinfield Felton1LT0-760895Age 22USACo-PilotDFC (US)
USAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageSurvivedThe eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
3 HubbellCharles Hugh2LT0-713616Age 22USANavigatorDFC (US)
USAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageSurvivedThe eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
4 ReisingFrank Herman2LT0-762804Age 28USABombadierUSAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageSurvivedThe eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
5 ChaplowLeroy HenryS/Sgt15070182Age 26USATurret gunnerUSAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageSurvivedThe eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
6 DivilKenneth DavidSgt357655391925-05-02, Smithfield, Fayette County, PennsylvaniaUSABall turret gunnerAir Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple HeartUSAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageKilled Age 19American War Cemetery Ardennes Belgium Plot D, Row 10, Grave 53

The eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
7 GoodmanWalter FrankS/Sgt36480907Age 23USARadioUSAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageSurvivedThe eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
8 IngisonWalter CharlesSgt36597221Age 19USAGunnerUSAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageSurvivedThe eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
9 PierceJames MackS/Sgt37677168Age 25USAWaist gunnerUSAAF351st Bomber Group508th Bomber Squadron
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageSurvivedThe eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
10 KurtzJohn JosephS/Sgt36827478Age 19USAGerman speaking specialist Y operatorUSAAF351st Bomber Group511th Bomber Squadron (assigned to 508th Bomber Squadron)
1944-09-27B-17 Fortress42-98004YB-HRAF Polebrook09:37Bomb marshalling yards Köln (Cologne)150mm flak shell blew huge hole in fuselageBlown out after explosion. PoW Stalag Luft 4The eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger reads: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly.......and the Y-Operator (a German-speaking voice interceptor from 511st Bomber Sqn) fell out without his parachute (see note below). The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”

Results 1 to 10 of 10.