457th Bomb Group 457th Bomb Group Honor Roll
Mission No. 139		 748th Bomb Squadron
457th Bomb Group 748th Bomb Squadron
                                         (457th Home) (Back)            Updated 12/03/2000, 19:17:16

Mission Narrative

Mission No. 139
Date - October 25, 1944
Target - Hamburg
On this date the 8th launched 1200 heavy bombers to bomb oil refineries and the marshalling yards at Hamburg. The 457th put up 36 planes and the mission was led by Capt Doherty. All bombing was by PFF at 25,000 feet with each squadron bombing in trail. While the flak was inaccurate, it did hit one plane s/n 42-97899 that caught fire and exploded. Bombing results were unobserved.
Plane s/n 42-97899, piloted by Lt John F. Angier, was hit by a couple bursts of flak as they approached the target at Hambug. The entire right wing was on fire and the #3 engine fell away from the plane. They dove down trying to extinguish the fire and leveled off for a few minutes before it exploded. Some chutes were seen. Howard Lang's chute failed to open. (See John Angier's story of this mission in "Black Puff Polly" by Roland Byers)

......... Crew

The crew was as follows:
     Plane s/n 42-97899     
PilotLt John F. Angier   POW
CopilotLt Samuel E. Cashman   POW
NavigatorLt Samuel A. Plestine   KIA  
BombardierF/O Robert J. Maitland   POW
Aircraft EngineerSgt Howard H. Lang   KIA  
Radio OperatorSgt William M. Thomas   POW
Left Waist GunnerSgt Charles D. Osborn   POW
Ball Turret GunnerSgt Edwin C. Vantine   POW
Tail GunnerSgt Maynard E. Judson   KIA  
                                         (457th Home) (Back)            Updated 12/03/2000, 19:17:16
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the Content:  Willard (Hap) Reese (Website Author)