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Bechtel Crew - Assigned 753rd Squadron - August 13, 1944 |
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2Lt Russell J. Bechtel Crew (L-R) |
Standing: Alex Bail - BTG, John Gast - TTG, Everett Russell - TG, Louis Dolce - NTG, William Dromey - E, Eldon Williams - RO
Kneeling: Paul Collette - N, Russell Bechtel - P, Joseph Bryant - CP, William Torres - B
(Photo: Randy Scorby)
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1Lt Russell Bechtel Crew - Mid-Air collision - February 23, 1945 (Acc Rpt 45-2-23-45) |
| Name |
Pos |
Status |
Date |
Notes |
|
1Lt Russell J. Bechtel |
P |
KIA |
23 Feb 1945 |
Mid-Air collision near Horsham |
|
1Lt Joseph C. Bryant |
CP |
KIA |
23 Feb 1945 |
Mid-Air collision near Horsham |
|
1Lt Paul H. Collette |
N |
RFS |
28 Oct 1944 |
Removed from Flying Status |
|
1Lt William E. Torres |
B |
KIA |
23 Feb 1945 |
Mid-Air collision near Horsham |
|
Sgt Eldon O. Williams |
RO |
RFS |
20 Oct 1944 |
Removed from Flying Status |
|
Sgt William C. Dromey |
E |
RFS |
20 Oct 1944 |
Removed from Flying Status |
|
S/Sgt Alex C. Bail |
BTG |
KIA |
23 Feb 1945 |
Mid-Air collision near Horsham |
|
S/Sgt Louis R. Dolce |
NTG |
KIA |
23 Feb 1945 |
Mid-Air collision near Horsham |
|
S/Sgt John A. Gast |
G |
KIA |
23 Feb 1945 |
Mid-Air collision near Horsham |
|
S/Sgt Everett E. Russell |
TG |
KIA |
23 Feb 1945 |
Mid-Air collision near Horsham |
On February 23, 1945, while returning from the 458th Bomb Group's mission to bomb the Gera and Reichenbach Marshalling Yards in Germany, Bechtel's crew, flying B-24H 42-50449 HEAVENLY HIDEAWAY, collided with 2Lt Daniel F. Hunt, Jr.s crew (754th Sqdn), flying B-24H 41-29596 HELL'S ANGELS. Both ships went down about 10 miles north of Horsham St. Faith, 15 of 18 men being killed.
Also killed in action while flying with Lt Bechtel's crew that day were T/Sgt Harold A. Nelson (E), and Sgt Leonard E. Wood (G). Harold Nelson was an individual replacement, arriving at the 458th on August 12, 1944 and Leonard Wood was a gunner on 2Lt Donald K. Williams crew, assigned November 17, 1944. 1Lt William Torres flew as navigator.
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Bechtel Crew Missions |
|
DATE |
TARGET |
PILOT |
458th Msn # |
Pilot Msn# |
Cmd Pilot |
LD |
Serial |
RCL |
Sqdn |
A/C Msn # |
A/C Name |
MIA |
Notes |
|
25-Aug-1944 |
TERTRE |
BECHTEL |
119 |
1 |
|
|
44-40285 |
H |
J4 |
30 |
TABLE STUFF |
|
|
|
27-Aug-1944 |
FINOW |
BECHTEL |
|
2 |
|
|
41-28705 |
W |
J4 |
-- |
YE OLDE HELLGATE |
|
SORTIE CREDITED IN NOV |
|
1-Sep-1944 |
RAVENSTEIN, HOL |
BECHTEL |
AZ 14 |
3 |
|
|
44-40277 |
P |
J4 |
5 |
MISS USED |
|
|
|
3-Oct-1944 |
GAGGENAU |
BECHTEL |
126 |
4 |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
15 |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
|
|
12-Oct-1944 |
OSNABRUCK |
BECHTEL |
131 |
5 |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
17 |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
|
|
15-Oct-1944 |
MONHEIM |
BECHTEL |
133 |
6 |
|
|
44-40273 |
T |
J4 |
22 |
HOWLING BANSHEE |
|
|
|
22-Oct-1944 |
HAMM |
BECHTEL |
136 |
7 |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
18 |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
|
|
5-Nov-1944 |
KARLSRUHE |
BECHTEL |
141 |
8 |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
23 |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
|
|
8-Nov-1944 |
RHEINE |
BECHTEL |
143 |
9 |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
25 |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
|
|
16-Nov-1944 |
ESCHWEILER |
BECHTEL |
146 |
10 |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
26 |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
|
|
25-Nov-1944 |
BINGEN |
BECHTEL |
148 |
11 |
|
|
44-40285 |
H |
J4 |
43 |
TABLE STUFF |
|
|
|
6-Dec-1944 |
BIELEFELD |
BECHTEL |
153 |
12 |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
29 |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
|
|
18-Dec-1944 |
KOBLENZ |
BECHTEL |
-- |
-- |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
-- |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
SCRUBBED |
|
24-Dec-1944 |
SCHONECKEN |
BECHTEL |
157 |
13 |
|
|
44-40201 |
N |
J4 |
32 |
SILVER CHIEF |
|
|
|
25-Dec-1944 |
PRONSFELD |
BECHTEL |
158 |
14 |
|
|
42-51200 |
B |
J4 |
3 |
STINKY |
|
|
|
28-Dec-1944 |
ST. WENDEL |
BECHTEL |
160 |
15 |
|
|
44-40281 |
Q |
J4 |
22 |
A DOG'S LIFE |
|
|
|
30-Dec-1944 |
NEUWIED |
BECHTEL |
161 |
16 |
|
|
44-40281 |
Q |
J4 |
23 |
A DOG'S LIFE |
|
|
|
1-Jan-1945 |
KOBLENZ |
BECHTEL |
163 |
MSHL |
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
753RD MARSHALL |
|
13-Jan-1945 |
KAISERLAUTERN |
BECHTEL |
169 |
17 |
|
|
42-50912 |
D |
J4 |
1 |
THE TRAVLIN' BAG |
|
|
|
14-Jan-1945 |
HALLENDORF |
BECHTEL |
170 |
18 |
|
|
44-40118 |
S |
J4 |
27 |
WE'LL GET BY |
|
|
|
28-Jan-1945 |
DORTMUND |
BECHTEL |
174 |
19 |
|
|
42-50449 |
W |
J4 |
36 |
HEAVENLY HIDEAWAY |
|
|
|
31-Jan-1945 |
BRUNSWICK |
BECHTEL |
176 |
20 |
|
|
42-50912 |
D |
J4 |
6 |
THE TRAVLIN' BAG |
|
RECALL - SORTIE CREDIT |
|
3-Feb-1945 |
MAGDEBURG |
BECHTEL |
177 |
21 |
|
|
42-110141 |
U |
J4 |
34 |
BREEZY LADY |
|
|
|
6-Feb-1945 |
MAGDEBURG |
BECHTEL |
178 |
22 |
|
|
42-50912 |
D |
J4 |
8 |
THE TRAVLIN' BAG |
|
|
|
9-Feb-1945 |
MAGDEBURG |
BECHTEL |
179 |
MSHL |
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
753RD MARSHALL |
|
15-Feb-1945 |
MAGDEBURG |
BECHTEL |
182 |
MSHL |
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
753RD MARSHALL |
|
16-Feb-1945 |
OSNABRUCK |
BECHTEL |
183 |
23 |
|
|
44-40273 |
T |
J4 |
32 |
HOWLING BANSHEE |
|
|
|
19-Feb-1945 |
MESCHADE |
BECHTEL |
184 |
24 |
|
|
44-40273 |
T |
J4 |
33 |
HOWLING BANSHEE |
|
|
|
22-Feb-1945 |
PEINE-HILDESHEIM |
BECHTEL |
186 |
25 |
|
|
44-40134 |
R |
J4 |
52 |
UNKNOWN 039 |
|
|
|
23-Feb-1945 |
GERA-REICHENBACH |
BECHTEL |
187 |
26 |
|
|
44-50449 |
W |
J4 |
47 |
HEAVENLY HIDEAWAY |
MAC |
COLLIDED w/HUNT 596R |
Mission list compiled from 458th group records
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Eyewitness statement of 2Lt William G. Everett, 754th Squadron |
754TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H)
AAF 123 APO 558
27 Feb 1945
SUBJECT: Collision of Aircraft, 41-29596 and 42-50449
TO: Air Inspector, 458th Bombardment Group
1. The collision occurred over Buncher 15 as our Squadron, second section of the Group, was making th | |
