Operation: Blechhammer Oil Refinery, Germany

Date: 14th October 1944 (Saturday)

Unit No: 414th Bombardment Squadron (H), 97th Bombardment Group (H), 5th Bomb Wing, 15th Air Force

Type: B-17G

Serial: 44-8004

Code: Unknown

Base: Amendolo Airfield, Italy

Location: About 3 miles (5 km) SSE of Otrokowice (Zlín) Airfield, Czechoslovakia

Pilot: 1st Lt. Victor John Bieniek O-813303 AAF Age 24. PoW *

Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Harold Albert Nefe O-825242 AAF Age 24. PoW *

Navigator: 1st Lt. Arthur William Sanders O-712462 AAF Age 24. PoW *

Bombardier: 1st Lt. Raymond Washburn Winters O-762857 AAF Age 21. Killed

Mickey Navigator: 1st Lt. James W. Johnson O-704626 AAF Age 24. Killed (1)

Engineer: S/Sgt. Dan Edward Smith 39336799 AAF Age 19. PoW **

Radio Operator: S/Sgt. William Robert Lawrence 15075199 AAF Age 23. PoW Unknown Camp

Left Waist Gnr: T/Sgt. Howard Elmer Ott 16080828 AAF Age 24. PoW **

Right Waist Gnr: S/Sgt. Edward Ostrom Grant 32365874 AAF Age 26. PoW *

Tail Gnr: Sgt. Wesley William Bangs Jr. 38495115 AAF Age 20. PoW ** (2)

* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland

** Stalag Luft 4, Groß-Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia now Tychowo, Poland

Above left to right: 1st Lt. Harold A. Nefe (from the University of Michigan, Yearbook 1947), 1st Lt. Raymond W. Winters (from “Bombs Away” Class of 43-18 at Victorville Army Air Field, Victorville, California), 1st Lt. James W. Johnson (from Class Book, Bellaire High School, Ohio – 1936)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 14th October 1944 the Blechhammer Oil Refinery in Germany was the target for elements of the 5th Bomb Wing. Enroute bad weather left only one-hundred and two (102) B-17s to bomb the refinery. Several production units, ovens, a conveyer and several workshops. The Flak over the target was moderate and accurate and the 97th Bombardment Group lost three (3) bombers.

After dropping its bombs over the target, the aircraft was hit by Flak which knocked out two (2) engines and punctured the gas tanks. They began to fall behind the formation and lose altitude. By the time they reached the Otrokovice area the gas leak had become so critical that the crew decided to make a forced-landing at Otrokovice Zlín) Airfield even though it was seen to have a number of German Stukas parked around the airfield. However, after entering the pattern and whilst preparing to land a machine gunner on the airfield opened fire so they abandoned the landing and, with the undercarriage still extended, headed toward Napajedla. At about 13:15 hrs they made a successful forced-landing on a large field, some 3 miles (5 km) SE from the small Otrokowice (Zlín) Airfield. (Courtesy of the Czech Aviation Research Centre and Ref. 1).

The undamaged B-17 caught the attention of the four (4) Mustangs of the 308th Fighter Squadron led by 1st Lt. John J. Voll O-705511 who were returning from Silesia after escorting bombers. They descended to investigate and after they had seen the crew abandon the aircraft, they made several passes and strafed the B-17 setting it ablaze which was completely destroyed thus denying the Germans a prize of an intact B-17. (Courtesy of the Czech Aviation Research Centre and Ref. 1).

Above: Images of the burnt out B-17G 44-8004 (Courtesy of the Czech Aviation Research Centre and Ref. 1)

After making plans to evade the enemy they separated. Several hours after being apprehended 1st Lt. Nefe was told by his captors that two of the crew had been shot because they resisted when being captured. The two turned out to be 1st Lt. Winters and 1st Lt. Johnson. The remainder of the crew were all captured in short order and later reported to have to have heard the shots and shouting.

Note: No records, American or German, have been found that reported what investigation if any was carried out to establish the circumstances leading to the shooting of 1st Lt. Winters and 1st Lt. Johnson.

(1) 1st Lt. Johnson was attached from the 340th Bombardment Squadron. He was the H2X Radar operator referred to as the ‘Mickey’ Navigator.

(2) Sgt. Bangs suffered a perforating injury to his right eye, probably from the Flak that hit the aircraft rather than in the crash. He was treated at the Otrokowice (Zlín) Airfield Hospital after being transferred from the Airfield Hospital I/XVII Brusen on the 15th October.

Burial details:

1st Lt. Winters and 1st Lt. Johnson were initially buried on the 18th October 1944 at 17:00 hrs in the Napajede City Cemetery in Graves 1101 and 1102 respectively.

Above: Grave marker for 1st Lt. Raymond W. Winters (Courtesy of Laura S – FindAGrave)

1st Lt. Raymond Washburn Winters. Purple Heart (PH) Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters (AM(2OLC)). Lorraine American Cemetery, Plot D, Row 11, Grave 14. Born on the 25th June 1921 in San Francisco, California. Son of Raymond A. and Elizabeth Cordella (née Washburn) Winters. Husband to Gertrude M. Winters of San Francisco, California, USA.

Above: Grave marker for 1st Lt. James W. Johnson (Courtesy of Denise Kellam - FindAGrave)

1st Lt. James W. Johnson. Purple Heart (PH) Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters (AM(OLC)). Lorraine American Cemetery, Plot B, Row 31, Grave 34. Born in December 1919 in Pultney, Belmont County, Ohio. Son of Mathew Garfield and Lettie V. (née Brown) Johnson of Neffs, Belmont County, Ohio, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their relatives (Jun 2026).

Other sources listed below:

Reference(s):

1. Vzpomínky na neznámé letce (Memories of unknown Airmen) by Jan Mahr - ISBN 978-80-903030-6-5

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt