“On the Mission of April 13 to Neumunster, Lt. Palant and crew flying Deputy Lead of Group, at time of bombs away, Bombardier thought bombs had fallen, however Engineer on checking notified Pilot (Lt. Palant) that bombs had not gone away. Pilot told Bombardier not to release bombs until after target, however by the time Pilot had finished speaking bombs had already dropped. About one minute after bombs dropped, there was a terrific explosion underneath plane (Pilot thought ship had been hit by enemy Jet aircraft) and entire ship peppered with bomb fragments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tail Gunner (Lt. Hedges) called that he had been hit either in the stomach or arm. By the time Pilot could send anyone back to check on Tail Gunner, Engineer reported entire right wing on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crew discipline was excellent. Pilot requested all to remain at stations until notified, then dove plane from 25,000 feet to 20,000 feet hoping to put out fire – however gas leakage increased blaze. At 20,000 feet Pilot notified crew what the situation was and called Navigator asking which direction to head toward our lines after bailing out. Pilot explained he was going to stay with ship as long as possible in order to get as near friendly territory and asked crew what they wished to do. They wished to bail out so he told them to go out. After they bailed out Pilot dove to 12,000 feet and leveled out – wing burning worse than ever and entire sections falling off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pilot realized he couldn’t stay with ship much longer so set the C-1 up and then looked through nose and radio compartment to see that everyone was out, also called each position and received no answers so knew everyone was out. Decided to jump from Pilot hatch but Bomb bay doors open so closed Bomb bay doors but they would not remain shut so decided to jump from Bomb bay. Straddled Bomb Bay and waited until heat from fires became unbearable and then jumped. Made a delayed jump of about 8,000 feet and landed along edge of forest. Pilot does not know what happened to rest of crew.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eyewitness Statements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the 13th of April I was on the raid over Numunster[sic], and right after bombs away someone called out flak at 11 o’ clock. I was in the ball turret, so I turned my turret around and seen a B-17 on fire. He started down to the right, I watched him for a few minutes. One man bailed out. He dropped a long ways before he opened his chute, then one more came out. When the plane got to about 10,000 feet four (4) more bailed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It kept on going down when almost to the ground, two more came out, making a total of eight. Then the plane went into a spin and crashed into the ground. I then turned to 12 o’clock and saw another one [Lt Palant’s] going down at 12 o’clock low. I could see some smoke coming out of it, but no fire. Five men bailed out of it. I watched the plane till it got around to 5 o’clock then it went out of sight. I didn’t see anyone else come out. The plane was still in the air the last I saw of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sgt. Frank M. Mackey Durning the raid over Numunster[sic] on 13 April while flying No. 3 of the lead element the low squadron, about a minute after bombs away, I heard F\/O Basco call over the interphone to watch out for a burning ship. I picked this plane up at 3 o’clock and followed it down. One chute from the aft part of the ship came out and opened immediately. Then the tail surfaces blew off. Shortly after that I saw two more chutes open, one of which was a delayed jump. The No. 3 engine was on fire, flames seemed to consume the fuselage of the plane, from the engine back to the radio room. I lost it below the cloud layers a little later. I saw no more chutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bombardier, Lt McCarty, said to count the number of chutes from the second plane [Lt Palant’s]. I picked the ship up at 1 or 2 o’clock and counted 5 chutes. The plane was on fire, but seemed to be making wide spirals under control. Two more chutes opened and the fire on the ship went out, but one engine was trailing black smoke. I lost the plane under some clouds but picked it up again, a minute later, through a break in the clouds only to lose it again completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sgt. Clarence E. Cropp During the raid over Numunster[sic] on 13 April after bombs away and the explosion of two colliding bombs, I looked to the left of our ship and saw a plane peeling off on fire. His radio room and No. 3 engine were on fire. He made a wide circle to the right and loosing altitude at the same time. When they started to bail out I counted eight chutes, the eighth chute caught fire when the man bailed out. Just after the last chute came out, the bomber went into a spin and after about two turns, broke up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second ship [Lt Palant’s] came from 6 o’clock and went underneath us to 9 o’clock after we turned off the target. He was loosing altitude fast, but apparently under control. After he lost quite a little altitude he apparently levelled out and moved over to two o’clock. The crew started to bail out, as smoke started coming from No. 3 engine and I saw seven chutes. I watched them fall to the ground. The plane continued to fly straight ahead and later I lost it in the clouds. Our navigator said that we were over enemy territory at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sgt. Hadley J. Oien Source: MACR 13907<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ball Turret Gunner, B-17G #44-6896<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Ball Turret Gunner, B-17G #44-7249<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Tail Gunner, B-17G #44-8627<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/b17flyingfortress.de\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/05074_Row0002_Column0007-767x1024.jpg\")