458th Bombardment Group (H)

While there is no record of their being assigned, Lt. Evert R. Thompson and crew most likely arrived in April when the first replacement crews started coming into Horsham.  They were designated Crew #38 in the 752nd Squadron.  The crew flew their first mission on May 4, 1944. Their second mission, the very next day, saw them bombing the military installations near Sottevast.  Losing two engines to flak over France they made it as far as in Odiham, about 140 miles southwest of Horsham.  Four of the crew were killed and the rest were hospitalized.

Several crewmen flew in place of the original crew who were killed on the May 5th mission, but the loading list for the crew’s last mission on August 9, 1944 shows the following crewmen (other than original crew) aboard that day: 2Lt Milton W. Grayson (originally assigned with 2Lt Bernard A. Ferrance on June 3, 1944), navigator; Sgt Walter J. Luke and Sgt George L. Olson, gunners; and T/Sgt Willard R. Middelkauff, tail turret gunner.  All but Middelkauff may have flown several missions with Thompson.

The target for the 458th on August 9th was a ball bearing plant on the edge of Stuttgart, but cloud cover forced the group to their Secondary target, the marshalling yards at Saarbrucken.  At some point, Thompson’s aircraft, Heavenly Body received damage to two of their engines from flak.  Co-pilot Lt Walter Landers stated that they, “had just dropped our bombs” when they left the formation.  According to pilot, Lt Thompson, “All crew members bailed out about 25 minutes after being hit by flak – bailed out near Trier [Germany] – all members were POW’s.”

MACR 7890

At 1108 hours in the vicinity of TRIER, a number of ‘Chutes were suddenly seen to emerge from an aircraft of the 458th Bomb Gp.  All other Aircraft returned, so presumably ‘Chutes were from #942.  Reports on No. of ‘Chutes seen vary between eight and nine, with eight in preponderance.  At time ‘Chutes were sighted there was no flak or enemy aircraft, but two props on aircraft were reported to be wind-milling.  Aircraft was last sighted maintaining altitude and heading westwards in erratic flight.

While it will most likely never be known for certain whose aircraft is pictured here, it is nonetheless a fascinating set of photos.

(Courtesy: Bill Case)