October 6, 1943, the B-17F, Serial No. 42-30474, Nik - Name: Bum's Rush of the 99th Bomb Group, 346th Squadron, 12th / 15th Airforce was flying over northern Italy when they were heavily attacked by a barrage of enemy fire. They were on their way to drop their bombs on the strategic target at Mestre, Italy, but were now under attack.
The side gunner of an adjacent B-17 described it this way:
"Aircraft 474, Serail No: 42-30474 appeared to be in trouble shortly after the flak and fighter attack began. They salvoed their bombs and remained in position. There was an explosion in or around Bombay as fighter planes attacked. I could see parts of the plane flying up. The aircraft appeared to remain in control, but I could see that 474 was badly damaged and torn up from the upper turret back into the radio room. At this point, 474 passed from my view. Tail gunner S/Sgt. Leo Robin reported that he definitely saw four parachutes on men exiting the aircraft. The last Robin saw of the plane, it had apparently gone out of control and was rapidly losing altitude."
The B-17 crashed in Pavone del Mella, Lombardy, Province : Brescia (BS) Italy.
5 crew members interned in Switzerland, 3 crew members prisoner of war Stalag XVIIB in Krems, Austria, 1 crew member escape/return to unit, 1 crew member KIA (killed in action).
Crew:
Pilot: F/O Otis S. Lee, interned in Switzerland.
Co-pilot: F/O Carlton O. Alderson, interned in Switzerland.
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Rudy Menchl, interned in Switzerland.
Bombardier : ? James Markowitz, not on this mission
Bombardier : 2nd Lt. Thomas H. Carver, replacement, interned in Switzerland
Engineer: T/Sgt. Victor Dickerson, KIA
Engineer: S/Sgt. Willie C. Jones (Asst. Ing.) POW Stalag XVIIB at Krems, Austria
Radio: T/Sgt. Ralph E. Kramer, Prisoner of War Stalag XVIIB in Krems, Austria
Radio: S/Sgt. George H. Ritter (Asst. Radio Operator) Escape / Return to Unit
Waist: S/Sgt. Harry L. Cunningham, POW Stalag XVIIB in Krems, Austria
Tail gunner: S/Sgt. Leonard A. Farley, interned in Switzerland.
