The target for the 457th was an ordinance depot at Oranienburg, near Berlin. Rendezvous and course were flown as briefed. Bombing was visual in squadron trail formation. Bombs were dropped from 25000 feet and results of all squadrons was good. Just after dropping their bombs the group was attacked by four ME-262's from the tail, The The lead ship s/n 44-8368 was hit by 20 mm cannon and, with two engines out, left the formation and later exploded. Also a plane in the high box s/n 43-38606, was hit and dove out of formation. Another plane, s/n , flying deputy lead was hit badly by 20 mm shells but managed to stay with the bomber stream and made an emergency landing at Woodbridge in England.

Plane s/n 43-38606, named "Moon Light Mission," and piloted by Lt Thomas P. Thompson, Jr., was flying #2 position in the high box and was hit by a number of 20 mm shells from the ME-262's that were attacking. The plane immediately nosed down, and burst into flames. One wing came off and the ship exploded at about 15000 feet. Four of the crewmen did not survive. It is reported by some of the survivors that the Germans took Keith and Lewis to the site of the crash and made them carry the bodies of there fellow crewmen to a nearby cemetery.

The crew was as follows:
     Plane s/n 43-38606     

Pilot		Lt Thomas P. Thompson, Jr.	POW
Copilot		F/O Max E. Felder	KIA
Navigator		F/O Charlie P. Keith	POW
Toggleer		Sgt Alfred F. Waichunas	KIA
Aircraft Engineer		Sgt Thomas E. Smith	KIA
Radio Operator		Sgt Keith V. Shinault	POW
Left Waist Gunner		Sgt William A. Peltoma	POW
Ball Turret Gunner		Sgt Walter J. Basara	KIA
Tail Gunner		Sgt John W. Lewis	POW