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457th Bomb Group Honor Roll
Mission No. 178 |
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| 457th Bomb Group | 748th Bomb Squadron |
| (457th Home) (Back) Updated 03/31/2005, 19:17:21 |
Mission NarrativeMission No. 178Date - January 22, 1945 Target - Sterkrade The target for the 457th was a synthetic oil refinery in the northeast corner of the Ruhr valley. The group formed up in the bomber stream and when the target showed clear, each squadron bombed separately. The low squadron was forced to hold its bombs when another group flew directly under it at the point of bomb release. That squadron went on to bomb Osnabruck, Germany. The Squadrons became separated and returned to the base separately. One plane, s/n 43-38583, was hit by flak near the town of Recklinghausen. It dove out of formation and disappeared into the clouds. Plane s/n 43-38583, 748th Squadron, and piloted by Lt. Arthur G. Jellinek, was hit by flak after leaving the target at Stekrade, Germany. The control surfaces were badly damaged and parts of the vertical stabilizer were shot away. The plane left the formation and was lost in the clouds. All of the crew parachuted into Germany and became POW's. |
......... Crew
| Pilot | Lt. Arthur G. Jellinek | POW | |
| Copilot | Lt. James E. Christy | POW | |
| Bombardier | Lt. Jack A. Dressler | POW | |
| Toggleer | Sgt Joseph W. Farrow | POW | |
| Aircraft Engineer | Sgt. J. Frank Conti | POW | |
| Radio Operator | Sgt. Harry J. Jolly. Jr | POW | |
| Left Waist Gunner | Sgt. Karl Lembertson | POW | |
| Ball Turret Gunner | Sgt. Harley Ernst, Jr. | POW | |
| Tail Gunner | Sgt. Kenneth M. Beattie | POW |
Plane s/n 43-38583a | Note: Please feel free to send your observations/comments on the Content: Willard (Hap) Reese (Website Author) |