Engineer T/Sgt. Joseph Mindelsohn KIA
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Squadron: 67th Bomb Sq 44th Bomb Gp
Service # 17037191
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Henry C. Goodwin Jr. KIA
Target: No Ball - Coastal Military Installations, Escalles Sur Buchy, France
MACR#:2362
Date Lost: 14-Jan-44
Serial Number: 41-23779
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: G
Aircraft Name: 402
Location: France
Cause: Fighters 8KIA 2POW
Notes: The 2BD was dispatched to attack V weapons launch sites in the Pas de Caais area of France ( code No Ball ). The 44th BG is listed as having lost 1 ship on this mission.
There was no flak over the target, but the enemy sent about 20 fighters up to give challenge. The 44th BG shot down eight of these. Unfortunately, the 67th Squadron lost one aircraft. Plane crashed near Grandcamp, France.
MACR includes an account by M.F. McGeary – “I was flying co-pilot in a ship ahead and to the left of ship #41-23779. The formation was attacked by seven enemy aircraft – FWs and Me109s, from head on. The enemy passed through the formation with one hitting #779 in the #2 engine, setting it on fire. The plane went into a glide and when I looked around again, the ship had exploded. My right waist gunner and tail gunners saw one chute, believed to be the waist position as they went into the glide – it opened OK. I saw another chute that came out on fire, believed from the nose. No more parachutes were seen. This happened near the town of Duclair, west of Rouen [and Bolbec].”Right waist gunner Joseph A. Capo had this report on file, “Goodwin announced that the plane had been hit and was on fire, and ordered the crew to abandon ship. Palys, our radio operator, was trying to get out of a very small window on the flight deck, too small for him to even try to fit through! Lewis, tail gunner, was dead and motionless in his turret.”Smoke got so thick that Capo could see nothing at all. He took off his oxygen mask and was immediately burned by the intense heat. He said that in the spirit of panic that was affecting everyone at that time (e.g. Palys) that he thought he could see more clearly if he removed his mask. But only when he actually removed it did he realize how very hot it was. So he immediately made his exit through the bomb bay doors. “After I jumped and was on the way down, I could see Germans driving in their vehicles to capture prisoners. When I landed, it sent a tremendous jolt all the way up my spine. As soon as I hit the ground, a French partisan appeared very briefly, jumping out of the woods, saying ‘Pistola, pistola.’ I threw him my sidearm and this man quickly disappeared back into the woods. ”Shortly thereafter, Capo was surrounded by Germans. For the first six months he was a POW, Capo could not speak a word, apparently resulting from the jolt that he got on landing, but it also could have been the result of his throat being burned by those searing flames and heat. John Monks, the only other survivor, said that he saw the ship explode soon after he jumped and he saw Capo shortly afterwards. He also commented that Capo was badly burned about his eyes and face. Neither man saw any other parachutes. Sgt. Capo often stated that he thought Lt. Goodwin was killed when the plane was hit and all communications were knocked out at that same time. The plane crashed near Bolbec, France. All eight men remaining aboard the ship were buried at La Harve, France.
This was the fourth mission for the crew.
B24 41-23779 was flown by a different crew on operation tidal wave the low level raid on Ploesti oil refinery.
Crew of 41-23779,
2nd/Lt. Henry G. Goodwin Jr. Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Raymond C. Clark Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John E. Phelps Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard P. Forest Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Joseph Mindelsohn Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Joseph E. Palys Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. John C. Monks Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Andy Chalan Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Joseph A. Capo POW
S/Sgt. James E. Lewis Jr. KIA
~
Entered the service from Minnesota.
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Squadron: 67th Bomb Sq 44th Bomb Gp
Service # 17037191
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Henry C. Goodwin Jr. KIA
Target: No Ball - Coastal Military Installations, Escalles Sur Buchy, France
MACR#:2362
Date Lost: 14-Jan-44
Serial Number: 41-23779
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: G
Aircraft Name: 402
Location: France
Cause: Fighters 8KIA 2POW
Notes: The 2BD was dispatched to attack V weapons launch sites in the Pas de Caais area of France ( code No Ball ). The 44th BG is listed as having lost 1 ship on this mission.
There was no flak over the target, but the enemy sent about 20 fighters up to give challenge. The 44th BG shot down eight of these. Unfortunately, the 67th Squadron lost one aircraft. Plane crashed near Grandcamp, France.
MACR includes an account by M.F. McGeary – “I was flying co-pilot in a ship ahead and to the left of ship #41-23779. The formation was attacked by seven enemy aircraft – FWs and Me109s, from head on. The enemy passed through the formation with one hitting #779 in the #2 engine, setting it on fire. The plane went into a glide and when I looked around again, the ship had exploded. My right waist gunner and tail gunners saw one chute, believed to be the waist position as they went into the glide – it opened OK. I saw another chute that came out on fire, believed from the nose. No more parachutes were seen. This happened near the town of Duclair, west of Rouen [and Bolbec].”Right waist gunner Joseph A. Capo had this report on file, “Goodwin announced that the plane had been hit and was on fire, and ordered the crew to abandon ship. Palys, our radio operator, was trying to get out of a very small window on the flight deck, too small for him to even try to fit through! Lewis, tail gunner, was dead and motionless in his turret.”Smoke got so thick that Capo could see nothing at all. He took off his oxygen mask and was immediately burned by the intense heat. He said that in the spirit of panic that was affecting everyone at that time (e.g. Palys) that he thought he could see more clearly if he removed his mask. But only when he actually removed it did he realize how very hot it was. So he immediately made his exit through the bomb bay doors. “After I jumped and was on the way down, I could see Germans driving in their vehicles to capture prisoners. When I landed, it sent a tremendous jolt all the way up my spine. As soon as I hit the ground, a French partisan appeared very briefly, jumping out of the woods, saying ‘Pistola, pistola.’ I threw him my sidearm and this man quickly disappeared back into the woods. ”Shortly thereafter, Capo was surrounded by Germans. For the first six months he was a POW, Capo could not speak a word, apparently resulting from the jolt that he got on landing, but it also could have been the result of his throat being burned by those searing flames and heat. John Monks, the only other survivor, said that he saw the ship explode soon after he jumped and he saw Capo shortly afterwards. He also commented that Capo was badly burned about his eyes and face. Neither man saw any other parachutes. Sgt. Capo often stated that he thought Lt. Goodwin was killed when the plane was hit and all communications were knocked out at that same time. The plane crashed near Bolbec, France. All eight men remaining aboard the ship were buried at La Harve, France.
This was the fourth mission for the crew.
B24 41-23779 was flown by a different crew on operation tidal wave the low level raid on Ploesti oil refinery.
Crew of 41-23779,
2nd/Lt. Henry G. Goodwin Jr. Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Raymond C. Clark Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John E. Phelps Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard P. Forest Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Joseph Mindelsohn Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Joseph E. Palys Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. John C. Monks Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Andy Chalan Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Joseph A. Capo POW
S/Sgt. James E. Lewis Jr. KIA
~
Entered the service from Minnesota.
Engineer T/Sgt. Joseph Mindelsohn KIA
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Squadron: 67th Bomb Sq 44th Bomb Gp
Service # 17037191
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Henry C. Goodwin Jr. KIA
Target: No Ball - Coastal Military Installations, Escalles Sur Buchy, France
MACR#:2362
Date Lost: 14-Jan-44
Serial Number: 41-23779
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: G
Aircraft Name: 402
Location: France
Cause: Fighters 8KIA 2POW
Notes: The 2BD was dispatched to attack V weapons launch sites in the Pas de Caais area of France ( code No Ball ). The 44th BG is listed as having lost 1 ship on this mission.
There was no flak over the target, but the enemy sent about 20 fighters up to give challenge. The 44th BG shot down eight of these. Unfortunately, the 67th Squadron lost one aircraft. Plane crashed near Grandcamp, France.
MACR includes an account by M.F. McGeary – “I was flying co-pilot in a ship ahead and to the left of ship #41-23779. The formation was attacked by seven enemy aircraft – FWs and Me109s, from head on. The enemy passed through the formation with one hitting #779 in the #2 engine, setting it on fire. The plane went into a glide and when I looked around again, the ship had exploded. My right waist gunner and tail gunners saw one chute, believed to be the waist position as they went into the glide – it opened OK. I saw another chute that came out on fire, believed from the nose. No more parachutes were seen. This happened near the town of Duclair, west of Rouen [and Bolbec].”Right waist gunner Joseph A. Capo had this report on file, “Goodwin announced that the plane had been hit and was on fire, and ordered the crew to abandon ship. Palys, our radio operator, was trying to get out of a very small window on the flight deck, too small for him to even try to fit through! Lewis, tail gunner, was dead and motionless in his turret.”Smoke got so thick that Capo could see nothing at all. He took off his oxygen mask and was immediately burned by the intense heat. He said that in the spirit of panic that was affecting everyone at that time (e.g. Palys) that he thought he could see more clearly if he removed his mask. But only when he actually removed it did he realize how very hot it was. So he immediately made his exit through the bomb bay doors. “After I jumped and was on the way down, I could see Germans driving in their vehicles to capture prisoners. When I landed, it sent a tremendous jolt all the way up my spine. As soon as I hit the ground, a French partisan appeared very briefly, jumping out of the woods, saying ‘Pistola, pistola.’ I threw him my sidearm and this man quickly disappeared back into the woods. ”Shortly thereafter, Capo was surrounded by Germans. For the first six months he was a POW, Capo could not speak a word, apparently resulting from the jolt that he got on landing, but it also could have been the result of his throat being burned by those searing flames and heat. John Monks, the only other survivor, said that he saw the ship explode soon after he jumped and he saw Capo shortly afterwards. He also commented that Capo was badly burned about his eyes and face. Neither man saw any other parachutes. Sgt. Capo often stated that he thought Lt. Goodwin was killed when the plane was hit and all communications were knocked out at that same time. The plane crashed near Bolbec, France. All eight men remaining aboard the ship were buried at La Harve, France.
This was the fourth mission for the crew.
B24 41-23779 was flown by a different crew on operation tidal wave the low level raid on Ploesti oil refinery.
Crew of 41-23779,
2nd/Lt. Henry G. Goodwin Jr. Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Raymond C. Clark Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John E. Phelps Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard P. Forest Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Joseph Mindelsohn Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Joseph E. Palys Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. John C. Monks Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Andy Chalan Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Joseph A. Capo POW
S/Sgt. James E. Lewis Jr. KIA
~
Entered the service from Minnesota.
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Squadron: 67th Bomb Sq 44th Bomb Gp
Service # 17037191
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Henry C. Goodwin Jr. KIA
Target: No Ball - Coastal Military Installations, Escalles Sur Buchy, France
MACR#:2362
Date Lost: 14-Jan-44
Serial Number: 41-23779
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: G
Aircraft Name: 402
Location: France
Cause: Fighters 8KIA 2POW
Notes: The 2BD was dispatched to attack V weapons launch sites in the Pas de Caais area of France ( code No Ball ). The 44th BG is listed as having lost 1 ship on this mission.
There was no flak over the target, but the enemy sent about 20 fighters up to give challenge. The 44th BG shot down eight of these. Unfortunately, the 67th Squadron lost one aircraft. Plane crashed near Grandcamp, France.
MACR includes an account by M.F. McGeary – “I was flying co-pilot in a ship ahead and to the left of ship #41-23779. The formation was attacked by seven enemy aircraft – FWs and Me109s, from head on. The enemy passed through the formation with one hitting #779 in the #2 engine, setting it on fire. The plane went into a glide and when I looked around again, the ship had exploded. My right waist gunner and tail gunners saw one chute, believed to be the waist position as they went into the glide – it opened OK. I saw another chute that came out on fire, believed from the nose. No more parachutes were seen. This happened near the town of Duclair, west of Rouen [and Bolbec].”Right waist gunner Joseph A. Capo had this report on file, “Goodwin announced that the plane had been hit and was on fire, and ordered the crew to abandon ship. Palys, our radio operator, was trying to get out of a very small window on the flight deck, too small for him to even try to fit through! Lewis, tail gunner, was dead and motionless in his turret.”Smoke got so thick that Capo could see nothing at all. He took off his oxygen mask and was immediately burned by the intense heat. He said that in the spirit of panic that was affecting everyone at that time (e.g. Palys) that he thought he could see more clearly if he removed his mask. But only when he actually removed it did he realize how very hot it was. So he immediately made his exit through the bomb bay doors. “After I jumped and was on the way down, I could see Germans driving in their vehicles to capture prisoners. When I landed, it sent a tremendous jolt all the way up my spine. As soon as I hit the ground, a French partisan appeared very briefly, jumping out of the woods, saying ‘Pistola, pistola.’ I threw him my sidearm and this man quickly disappeared back into the woods. ”Shortly thereafter, Capo was surrounded by Germans. For the first six months he was a POW, Capo could not speak a word, apparently resulting from the jolt that he got on landing, but it also could have been the result of his throat being burned by those searing flames and heat. John Monks, the only other survivor, said that he saw the ship explode soon after he jumped and he saw Capo shortly afterwards. He also commented that Capo was badly burned about his eyes and face. Neither man saw any other parachutes. Sgt. Capo often stated that he thought Lt. Goodwin was killed when the plane was hit and all communications were knocked out at that same time. The plane crashed near Bolbec, France. All eight men remaining aboard the ship were buried at La Harve, France.
This was the fourth mission for the crew.
B24 41-23779 was flown by a different crew on operation tidal wave the low level raid on Ploesti oil refinery.
Crew of 41-23779,
2nd/Lt. Henry G. Goodwin Jr. Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Raymond C. Clark Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John E. Phelps Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard P. Forest Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Joseph Mindelsohn Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Joseph E. Palys Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. John C. Monks Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Andy Chalan Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Joseph A. Capo POW
S/Sgt. James E. Lewis Jr. KIA
~
Entered the service from Minnesota.
Inscription
TSGT, US ARMRY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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