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Mission: Berlin, Germany.
Date: 3rd June 1944 (12.13hrs - last sighted)
Unit: 349 Squadron (100 Bomb Group)
Type: Boeing B-17G ("Goin Jessies")
Serial No: 42-31051
Code: EP - K
Location: North of Hannover
Base:
Pilot: 2nd Lt Robert C. Koper 0-804460 Killed
Co Pilot: 2nd Lt Gordon C. Lien 0-755584 POW
Navigator: 2nd Lt George H. Wing 0-692122 Killed
Bombardier: 2nd Lt Thomas O. Drinkwater 0-682066 POW
Radio/Op: S/Sgt. Michael J. Tanowigch 18058006 Killed
Engineer: Sgt. Charles P. Corea 32144962 POW
Ball Turrett Sgt. Charles J. Luquette 18226230 Killed
Right Waist: Sgt. Ralph V. Zarzecki 33425880 Killed
Left Waist: Sgt. Arthur Frankel 12191378 Killed
Tail: Sgt. Bernard Sundin 39202524 Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Transcriber's Notes Regarding This MACR: When this crew joined the 100th 24 Feb 44 the ROG was T/Sgt Weston H. Rodkey. On 6 MAR 44 T/Sgt Michael J. Tanowigch, Original 100th from the Sammy Barr Crew #4 was flying in place of Rodkey. The crew with the exception of Tanowigch (On his second tour) had flown four (4) missions. Koper ordered the crew to bail out, remaining to fly the aircraft during the bail out and was alone in the aircraft when it exploded. Crew was flying "Goin Jessies" from the 351st Bomb Squadron on the Berlin Mission.
An un-identified eyewitness reported as follows: "At 1213 hours north of Hanover an aircraft which may have been No: 051 was attacked by enemy fighters and was shot down. Four or five chutes were seen. This sighting is not definitely identified as No: 051 - it could have been No:170."
B-17 "Goin Jessies" (Courtesy 100th Bomb Group Foundation)
2nd Lt Robert Koper and his wife. (Courtesy 100th Bomb Group Foundation)
Part of the crew, Robert Koper centre with Wes Rodkey (Radio/Op - See text) and Charles Corea (Engineer)
(Courtesy 100th Bomb Group Foundation)
Mission: Berlin, Germany.
Date: 3rd June 1944 (12.13hrs - last sighted)
Unit: 349 Squadron (100 Bomb Group)
Type: Boeing B-17G ("Goin Jessies")
Serial No: 42-31051
Code: EP - K
Location: North of Hannover
Base:
Pilot: 2nd Lt Robert C. Koper 0-804460 Killed
Co Pilot: 2nd Lt Gordon C. Lien 0-755584 POW
Navigator: 2nd Lt George H. Wing 0-692122 Killed
Bombardier: 2nd Lt Thomas O. Drinkwater 0-682066 POW
Radio/Op: S/Sgt. Michael J. Tanowigch 18058006 Killed
Engineer: Sgt. Charles P. Corea 32144962 POW
Ball Turrett Sgt. Charles J. Luquette 18226230 Killed
Right Waist: Sgt. Ralph V. Zarzecki 33425880 Killed
Left Waist: Sgt. Arthur Frankel 12191378 Killed
Tail: Sgt. Bernard Sundin 39202524 Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Transcriber's Notes Regarding This MACR: When this crew joined the 100th 24 Feb 44 the ROG was T/Sgt Weston H. Rodkey. On 6 MAR 44 T/Sgt Michael J. Tanowigch, Original 100th from the Sammy Barr Crew #4 was flying in place of Rodkey. The crew with the exception of Tanowigch (On his second tour) had flown four (4) missions. Koper ordered the crew to bail out, remaining to fly the aircraft during the bail out and was alone in the aircraft when it exploded. Crew was flying "Goin Jessies" from the 351st Bomb Squadron on the Berlin Mission.
An un-identified eyewitness reported as follows: "At 1213 hours north of Hanover an aircraft which may have been No: 051 was attacked by enemy fighters and was shot down. Four or five chutes were seen. This sighting is not definitely identified as No: 051 - it could have been No:170."
B-17 "Goin Jessies" (Courtesy 100th Bomb Group Foundation)
2nd Lt Robert Koper and his wife. (Courtesy 100th Bomb Group Foundation)
Part of the crew, Robert Koper centre with Wes Rodkey (Radio/Op - See text) and Charles Corea (Engineer)
(Courtesy 100th Bomb Group Foundation)
Burial details:
Ardennes American Cemetery, Nr Neupre, Liege, Belgium.