[aaatripp]

To: stakeouttoo

I have more info. (some of which was covered earlier by Peglar) with attachments. They are accounts of the bailout from the B-17, regis. info.
at Dular Luft and circumstances of his death. Working on reducing the file
size so that I can upload to this Forum.

MACR #11722 indicates: The details are that the 10-man crew of the B-17G "Star Duster" (a/c #43-38526) was assigned to the 568BS(H) of the 390BG(H) in the 8AF. They flew from Framlingham Airdrome in England bound for their target of Derben, Germany (approx. 50 mi. NW of Berlin). They were shot down at approx. 1240hrs, and the waist gunner Sgt. James R. Kidd, Crawfordsville, IND., was KIA aboard the a/c before the crew bailed out. The a/c commander/pilot was 1LT Louis F. Niebergall from Racine, Wisconsin. The last thing Ssgt Perrotta said to Ssgt Putt before Putt, the top turret gunner, gave the order to bailout was "we're burning".

Ssgt Perrotta's father is listed as: Mr. Vito Perrotta, 407 Shepherd Bay Road, in Brooklyn, NY.

The Registration Form shows he was captured the day he was shot down (14 Jan.) at 1300 in Friesack, near Neuruppin. He arrived at Dulag Luft Wetzlar on 19 Jan. His interrogator was "Goehring" who noted "he is a stubborn fellow and impertinent too."

Ssgt. Putt notes that Ssgt Perrotta was depressed and very religious and may have attempted to escape in daylight hours, without winter clothing, as a method of suicide. He was shot in the left side of the head while attempting to escape. He was buried at 0830 on 18 Feb 45 in grave #1 at the Russian Cemetery in Bublinghausen, Germany.

Will keep trying to upload these files.

Tripp