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Mission: Regensburg, Germany
Date: 17th August 1943
Unit: No: 418nd Bomb Squadron. 100th Bomb Group (H)
Type: B17F ""Picklepuss""
Serial: 42-30063
Coded: LD-?
Location: Near Kelmis West of Aachen Belgium
Pilot: Capt. Robert M Knox 0-438010 West Philadelphia Pennsylvania Killed
Co Pilot: 2Lt. John O Whitaker 0-795031 Wheeling West Virginia Killed
Navigator: 2Lt. Ernest E Warsaw 0-667431 Chicago Illinois POW
Bombardier: 2Lt. Edwin F Tobin 0-732685 Newberry California POW
Radio/Op: T/Sgt. Walter Paulsen 12077723 Belleville New Jersey POW Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria
Engineer: S/Sgt. Glover E Barney 36125930 Portland Oregon POW
Ball Turrett: S/Sgt. Frank W Tychewicz 36344174 Chicago Illinois Killed
Right Waist: Sgt. Alexander Markowski 12170779 Albany New York Killed
Left Waist: S/Sgt. Joseph F Laspada 32035882 Buffelo New York Killed
Tail: S/Sgt. Henry A Norton 14090803 Enterprice Alabama Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
The aircraft was named for Dorothy, wife of the pilot, Capt. Robert Knox as he nicknamed her "Pickelpuss". On August 17, 1943, the 481th squadron was the lead for the 100th Bomb Group which was assigned to bomb the Messerschmitt factory at Regensburg, Germany.
Shot down by enemy fighters (Hauptmann Von Bonin,Oberleutnant Barte and Leutnant Witzke, the aircraft crashed at Herbesthal Lontzen 500 meters W Schmalgraf,near Kelmis W of Aachen Belgium
Much has been written about the "Legend" of the 100th Bomb Group being "picked on" or singled out by the Luftwaffe for punishment because a 100th Group B 17 had, during the Regensburg raid, pulled out of formation with battle damage and then lowered its wheels in a supposed token of surrender. Then, when approached by several Luftwaffe fighter aircraft, its gunners were supposed to have opened fire and shot down several of the German planes. Crash time 11.40 Hrs. MACR 667
The Crew: Kneeling L-R: 2nd Lt. Edwin F. Tobin-BOM, Capt Robert M. Knox-Pilot, 2nd Lt. Ernest E. Warsaw-Nav, 2nd Lt. John O. Whitaker-CP.
Standing L-R: S/Sgt Frank W. Tychewicz-BTG, T/Sgt Carl T. Simon-TTE, T/Sgt Walter Paulsen-ROG, Unknown, S/Sgt Malcolm K. Maddran-WG, S/Sgt Joseph F. Laspada-WG, S/Sgt Henry A. Norton-TG, unknown
(Courtesy of 100th Bomb Group Foundation via Michel Beckers)
Hptm. Eckart-Wilhelm Von Bonin (Courtesy Ron Putz via Michel Beckers)
Grave of Cpt. Robert Knox (Courtesy of 100th Bomb Group Foundation via Michel Beckers)
Burial Details:
The six dead were interred at the Cemetery of Honour, Eupen in Section 16, Graves 218, 219, 220, 221, 222 and 232.
Researched by Michel Beckers for the A.R. Society.
Mission: Regensburg, Germany
Date: 17th August 1943
Unit: No: 418nd Bomb Squadron. 100th Bomb Group (H)
Type: B17F ""Picklepuss""
Serial: 42-30063
Coded: LD-?
Location: Near Kelmis West of Aachen Belgium
Pilot: Capt. Robert M Knox 0-438010 West Philadelphia Pennsylvania Killed
Co Pilot: 2Lt. John O Whitaker 0-795031 Wheeling West Virginia Killed
Navigator: 2Lt. Ernest E Warsaw 0-667431 Chicago Illinois POW
Bombardier: 2Lt. Edwin F Tobin 0-732685 Newberry California POW
Radio/Op: T/Sgt. Walter Paulsen 12077723 Belleville New Jersey POW Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria
Engineer: S/Sgt. Glover E Barney 36125930 Portland Oregon POW
Ball Turrett: S/Sgt. Frank W Tychewicz 36344174 Chicago Illinois Killed
Right Waist: Sgt. Alexander Markowski 12170779 Albany New York Killed
Left Waist: S/Sgt. Joseph F Laspada 32035882 Buffelo New York Killed
Tail: S/Sgt. Henry A Norton 14090803 Enterprice Alabama Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
The aircraft was named for Dorothy, wife of the pilot, Capt. Robert Knox as he nicknamed her "Pickelpuss". On August 17, 1943, the 481th squadron was the lead for the 100th Bomb Group which was assigned to bomb the Messerschmitt factory at Regensburg, Germany.
Shot down by enemy fighters (Hauptmann Von Bonin,Oberleutnant Barte and Leutnant Witzke, the aircraft crashed at Herbesthal Lontzen 500 meters W Schmalgraf,near Kelmis W of Aachen Belgium
Much has been written about the "Legend" of the 100th Bomb Group being "picked on" or singled out by the Luftwaffe for punishment because a 100th Group B 17 had, during the Regensburg raid, pulled out of formation with battle damage and then lowered its wheels in a supposed token of surrender. Then, when approached by several Luftwaffe fighter aircraft, its gunners were supposed to have opened fire and shot down several of the German planes. Crash time 11.40 Hrs. MACR 667
The Crew: Kneeling L-R: 2nd Lt. Edwin F. Tobin-BOM, Capt Robert M. Knox-Pilot, 2nd Lt. Ernest E. Warsaw-Nav, 2nd Lt. John O. Whitaker-CP.
Standing L-R: S/Sgt Frank W. Tychewicz-BTG, T/Sgt Carl T. Simon-TTE, T/Sgt Walter Paulsen-ROG, Unknown, S/Sgt Malcolm K. Maddran-WG, S/Sgt Joseph F. Laspada-WG, S/Sgt Henry A. Norton-TG, unknown
(Courtesy of 100th Bomb Group Foundation via Michel Beckers)
Hptm. Eckart-Wilhelm Von Bonin (Courtesy Ron Putz via Michel Beckers)
Grave of Cpt. Robert Knox (Courtesy of 100th Bomb Group Foundation via Michel Beckers)
Burial Details:
The six dead were interred at the Cemetery of Honour, Eupen in Section 16, Graves 218, 219, 220, 221, 222 and 232.
Researched by Michel Beckers for the A.R. Society.