[kdkutt]

ON 6TH SEPTEMBER,1943, B-17F #42-30203 WAS RETURNING FROM A MISSION TO STUTTGART, GERMANY. WHEN THE BOMBER STREAM BROKE UP, THERE WAS EXTREME CLOUD COVER, AND TO MUCH SMOKE FROM THE SMOKE POTS SURRONDING STUTTGART. THEY INSTEAD BOMBED TARGETS OF OPPERTUNITY IN STRAOSBORG, FRANCE. COMMING BACK THROUGH FRANCE, THEY WERE ATTACKED BY ABOUT 50 GERMAN FIGHTERS. THEIR APPROXIMATE POSITION WAS BETWEEN STRAOUSBURG AND PARIS. THE 388TH GROUP TOOK HEAVY LOSES. OUT OF 21 B-17'S, THE 388TH LOST 11 AIRCRAFT. MY UNCLE WAS THE RADIO OPERATOR ON #42-30203.
I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO SHOT DOWN THIS BOMBER, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO 4 OF THE CREWMENBERS. 3 WERE CAPTURED, 3 (INCLUDING MY UNCLE)ESCAPED WITH THE FRENCH RESISTANCE. ALL CREWMEMBERS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BAILED OUT. MY UNCLE LANDED NEAR COUDRAY, FRANCE. THE PILOT(ROY MOHR), COPILOT(ELMER F. SCHULZ), ENGINEER(HARTZELL JONES),AND THE BALL TURRANT GUNNER(BERNARD BECKER), WERE NEVER TO BE SEEN, OR HEARD FROM AGAIN. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT KDKUTT@AOL.COM.