TARGET: KRUPP WORKS MACHINE SHOP
MAGDEBURG, GERMANY
28 SEPTEMBER, 1944

Thirty-six aircraft were dispatched by the 457th, to destroy the Krupp Works Machine Shops in Magdeburg. This plant employed 35,000 people and produced Mark IV tanks and antiaircraft guns. The 457th comprised the 94th C Combat Wing and was ninth in the Division formation.

Additionally, three other aircraft received major, and twelve minor, battle damage from fighters and antiaircraft fire. The plane piloted by Lt. Harold D. Gay was attacked by FW-190s just before the IP. The bombs were salvoed, the craft left the formation and with engines smoking went into a steep dive and crashed near Dorstadt, Germany. None of the crew survived.

Eye-witness statement from 2nd Lt Donald W. Johnson and S/Sgt Bernard E. Sidebottom:
“Twenty-five to fifty ME-109´s and FW-190´s attacked group just before the I.P. Three attacks made from four to nine o´clock low. The aircraft (flown by Lt. Harold D. Gay) apparently burst into flames between #3 engine and fuselage on the right side. Black smoke was pouring from the aircraft when last seen a few seconds after it was hit. The aircraft slid off to the left when hit, then salvoed its bombs, then immediately went into a dive. No chutes were seen although there apparently was time for the men to bail out.”

The craft piloted by Lt. Charles J. Schultz was attacked by enemy fighters just before the IP. The craft left the formation in flames. Only one crew member survived.

The craft piloted by Lt. Robert I. Ellsworth was attacked by enemy fighters just before the IP, and left the formation. The crew parachuted, were captured and held as prisoners of war. The craft piloted by Lt. Fred J. Lockwald was hit by enemy fighters just before the IP. The craft left the formation and dropped, rose again and then peeled off to the left. Two of the crew were killed in action.

The plane piloted by Lt. Albert L. Sikkenga, flying his second tour, was attacked by enemy fighters at the IP, and was hit in engines No. 1 and 2. The plane left the formation. Six of the crew failed to survive.

The plane piloted by Lt. Francis W. Gamboa was also attacked by enemy fighters during their attack. He left the formation but later crash landed in Belgium.

The craft piloted by Lt. Keylon C. Clarke received direct hits by flak in No. 2 and 3 engines just after bombs away. The plane remained under control and leveled off at 5,000 feet. Two of the crew lost their lives.

(Compiler Note: For Lt. Keylon C. Clarke ‘s, Lt. Francis W. Gamboa and Lt. Raymond F. Rossner accounts of the mission, see Chapter 19.)
(Editor’s note: For an account of the mission by Spleth’s crew, see DEAD ENGINE KIDS.)

Sgt. Albert G. Williams, 457th/751st gunner: I wasn’t on the loading list. The target was Magdeburg. Were hit by 190’s. Seven ships were lost. Their fighters hit our ship. Engineer got one – ball turret another – third one scrammed.