William L. Hutchins                                                                               Updated:  03 JAN 2012

Airman: v999024.htm Surname: Hutchins Init: W L Rank: S/Sgt Service: USAAF Sqdn: 715

P_link: p306.htm Plane: B24 41-29479 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Near Poulsker

Crash_d: d290444 Buried_d: v999 C_link: v999.htm At_Next: EVD

B24 41-29479 "Gypsy Moth" var den 29. april 1944 med start fra basen Seething på bombetogt til Berlin. (Kilde: FT 87-93-6)
Flyet styrtede ned her ved Jomfrugård, Strandmarksvejen 7, 3730 Nexø omkring 2 km syd for Poulsker. (Kilde: Niels Christian Pihl)

"Under indflyvningen til målet blev flyet ramt af flak, og bombelugerne kunne ikke åbnes ved hjælp af automatik. Med håndkraft blev de dog åbnet og med noget besvær blev bombelasten derefter kastet. Efter passage af Berlin fik flyet alvorlige motorproblemer, og ud over Østersøen fløj man på kun en motor. Piloten gav derfor ordre til at forlade flyet, så snart man var inde over land igen. Over Poulsker (omkring her) sprang den første mand fra 3400 fods højde (1000 m) og den sidste, piloten, sprang i 2400 fods højde (700 m). (Ved denne flyver ses kun hans og hans ledsageres historie. Se resten ved B24 41-29479.)

En anden flyver, Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt William L. Hutchins, var ikke værre tilredt end at han iført civilt tøj kunne begive sig mod Bølshavn (her).

Efter nogle dage var fem af besætningsmedlemmerne nu samlet i Bølshavn, og kort efter sejlede Louis Olsen dem fra Tejn (her) til Sverige i kutteren "Codan". (Det var Bombardier 2nd Lt Laurin M. Derosier, Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt William L. Hutchins, Tail Gunner Sgt Albert L. Heikkila, Radio Operator T/Sgt Russell D. Leonard og Navigator 2nd Lt Robert L. Bobst.)" (FT 87-93-6) 10 flyvere.

Starting from Seething Airfield on 29 April 1944 B24 41-29479 "Gypsy Moth" was on a bombing raid to Berlin. (Source: FT 87-93-6)
The plane crashed here at Jomfrugård, Strandmarksvejen 7, DK-3730 Nexø about 2 km south of Poulsker. (Source: Niels Christian Pihl)

"The plane was hit by flak on its approach to target, and the bomb hatches could not be opened automatically. However, they were opened by hand and then the bomb load was dropped with some difficulty. Having passed Berlin the plane had serious engine problems, and over the Baltic Sea only one engine worked. The pilot ordered that the plane was to be abandoned as soon as they were over land again. The first man bailed out over Poulsker (about here) at an altitude of 3400 feet and the last, the pilot, bailed out at an altitude of 2400 feet. (At this airman you only read the story of him and his companion. See the others at B24 41-29479).

Another airman, Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt William L. Hutchins  was injured but was able to head for Bølshavn (here) in civilian clothes .

After some days five of the crew members were now gathered in Bølshavn, and Louis Olsen shortly after sailed them from Tejn (here) to Sweden in the cutter "Codan". (They were Bombardier 2nd Lt Laurin M. Derosier, Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt William L. Hutchins, Tail Gunner Sgt Albert L. Heikkila, Radio Operator T/Sgt Russell D. Leonard and Navigator 2nd Lt Robert L. Bobst.)" (FT 87-93-6)

This B-24H Liberator belonged to 715th Bombardment Squadron, 448th Bombardment Group, (Heavy) 8th Air Force. See 8th Air Force in World War II. 10 airmen.