Confidential
War Department
Headquarters Army Air Forces
Washington
Missing Aircrew Report
1. Organization: Location, by name Chelveston, England: Command or Air Force 8th AF Group 305th Bomb Gp: Squadron 365 Bomb Sq: Detachment…
2.Specify: Place of Departure Chelveston, England Course indefinite Target or destination Zwickau, Germany: Type of mission Heavy Bomb
3.Weather Conditions and visibility at time of crash or when last reported: 1/10 Cumulus, Top 5000 to 7000 ft. Downward Visibility 15 to 20 miles
4. Give: (a) Day 7 Month Oct Year 44: Time 1402 Location 5210N-0700E of last known whereabouts of missing A/C.
(b) Specify whether A/C was last sighted (x); last contacted by radio ( ); Forced down ( ); Seen to crash ( ); Information unavailable ( )
5.A/C was lost, or is believed to have been lost as a result of Enemy A/C ( ); Enemy Anti-Aircraft (x), Other circumstances as follows: See S-2 Summary of Eye-Witness Accounts
6. Aircraft: Type, Model, & Series B-17G: AAF Serial Number 43-38151
7. Nickname of A/C, If any…
8. Engines: Type, Model & Series: R-1820-97 AAF Serial No. (a) SW-023602 (b) SW-023572 (c) SW-023365 (d) SW-023582
9. Installed Weapons: See attached sheet
10. The persons listed below were reported as (a) Battle Casualty MIA or (b) Non Battle Casualty
11. Number of persons aboard A/C: Crew 10; Passengers 0; Total 10
| Crew Position | Name in Full (Last name first) |
Rank | ASN | Current Status |
| 1. Pilot | Bailey, James E. | 2nd Lt | 0-821931 | MIA KIA |
| 2. CoPilot | Brown, John M. | 2nd Lt | 0-556119 | MIA KIA |
| 3. Navigator | Brine, William C. | 2nd Lt | 0-722916 | MIA KIA |
| 4. Bombadier | Hewitt, Howard E. | 2nd Lt | 0-761432 | MIA KIA |
| 5. Top Turret | Cochran, Walter J. | Sgt | 13068475 | MIA RTD |
| 6. Radio Operator | Hill, Robert H. | Sgt | 15125602 | MIA KIA |
| 7. Ball Turret | Leier, Andrew (NMI) | Sgt | 37581323 | MIA KIA |
| 8. Tail Gunner | Meers, Herman (NMI) | Sgt | 36012871 | MIA KIA |
| 9. Waist Gunner (R) | Beling, Lloyd W. | Sgt | 17127210 | MIA RTD |
| 10. Waist Gunner (L) | Golan, Theodore F. | Cpl | 36656501 | MIA KIA |
| 11. |
12. Identify below those persons who are believed to have last knowledge of A/C and check appropriate column to indicate basis for same:
| Name in Full (Last name first) |
Rank | ASN | Contacted by Radio |
Last Sighted |
Saw Crash |
Saw Forced Landing |
| 1. Fetzer, Theodore J. | 1st Lt | 0-817185 | x | |||
| 2. Butkiewics, Joseph L. | 2nd Lt | 0-718235 | x | |||
| 3. DeVries, John F. | 2nd Lt | 0-723613 | x |
13. If personnel are believed to have survived, answer yes to one of the following statements: (a) Parachutes were used…; (b) Persons were seen walking away from scene of crash…; (c) Any other reason (Specify) No parachutes seen to open
14. Attach arial photograph, Map, Chart or Sketch, showing approximate location where A/C was last seen or heard from.
15. Attach Eye-witness description of crash, forced landing, or other circumstances pertaining to missing A/C See S-2 Summary of Eye-Witness accounts
16. Give Name, Rank, ASN, of officer in charge of search, if any, including description and extent: None
Date of Report: 9 October 1944
Fred C. Pettee
Capt, AC
Asst Base Adj.
17. Remarks or eye-witness statements: See S-2 Summary of Eye-Witness Accounts
Missing Air Crew Report Number 9355, National Archives, College Park, MD.