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Archive Report: US Forces
1941 - 1945
Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via Helpdesk
USAAF Crest
21.05.1944 748th Bomb Squadron 457 B/G - B17G 44-6103 B-17G 44-6103 1st Lt. N.H. Gerber

Operation: Schweinfurt Germany

Date: 21st July 1944

Unit: No. 748th Bomb Squadron 457th Bomb group

Type: Flying Fortress B17G

Serial: 44-6103

Code: -

Base: Glatton (130)

Location: Maibacher Hohe, Dittelbrunn, near Schweinfurt Germany

Pilot: 1st Lt. Norris H Gerber O-810986 USAAF injured (1st and 2nd degree burns) - PoW Camp: Stalag Luft 3

Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Richard J. Cotter 0-693638 USAAF Killed

TT/Eng: Sgt Norman Hirsch 32511919 USAAF injured (Fracture of tibia and fibia) - PoW Camp: Stalag 13C

Nav: 1st Lt. George A. Sipp O-752949 USAAF injured (Fracture of thigh) - PoW Camp: Stalag 13CSgt

Air/Bmr: 2nd Lt. William A. O'Connor 0-741683 USAAF injured (2nd degree burns) - PoW Camp: Stalag Luft 3

Ra/Op: Sgt Floyd T. Stitely 13094769 USAAF PoW Camp: Stalag Luft 4

RW/Gnr: Sgt. Herve J. Paquin 31265741 USAAF Killed

LW/Gnr: Sgt. Harold R. Moore 18219496 USAAF injured (Fracture of pelvis) - PoW Camp: Stalag 13D

T/Gnr: Sgt. Charles Minter, Jr 32767402 USAAF injured (Fracture of chest) - PoW Camp: Stalag 13C

REASON FOR LOSS:

B17G 44-6103, flying in the high box and piloted by Lt. Norris H. Gerber, was hit by flak and lost number 3 engine. They released their bombs and left the formation. The Flying Fortress dived in flames, was lost in the clouds and no parachutes were seen.


Burial details:

1st Lt. Richard J. Cotter. Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, France. Section B. Row 28. Grave 32.

Sgt. Herve J. Paquin. Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, France. Section K. Row 21. Grave 33.

Researcher Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered, December 2015. Photo of Lt. Cotter courtesy, Steve Wallinger. Grave photo of Sgt. Paguin courtesy Edwin de Mooij - others the collection of Michel Beckers.

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
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RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgments: Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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