Warren R. Messmer                                                                               Updated:  08 JUN 2015

Airman: e777129.htm Surname: Messmer Init: W R Rank: S/Sgt Service: USAAF Sqdn: 412

P_link: p293.htm Plane: B17 4237876 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Sea S of Bornholm

Crash_d: d110444 Buried_d: e777c C_link: e777c.htm At_Next: NO - CAM

B17 42-37876 var den 11. april 1944 med start fra basen Horham på bombetogt til Poznan (her). (Kilde: FT 87-92-3)

"Under indflyvningen fløj formationen langs den nordtyske kyst. Ud for Kolberg (Kolobrzeg her) blev den angrebet af tyske jagere, der skød raketter ind i formationen. 42-37876 blev kort efter ramt i venstre vinge og gled ud af formationen, og 10 udfoldede faldskærme blev observeret. Liget af Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Janofsky blev indbragt til Svaneke (her) den 12. april 1944 af kutteren "Anna", der havde fået flyveren overbragt fra det tyske skib "Josef Stadtland". Den forulykkede blev begravet den 14. april på Svaneke kirkegård af den tyske værnemagts feltpræst. De øvrige 9 besætningsmedlemmer har ingen kendt grav." (FT 87-92-3)

Staff Sergeant Warren R. Messmer var Top Turret Gunner. Han har ingen kendt grav. (Kilde: MACR)
Hans navn findes på Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, England.
Han kom i tjenesten fra Iowa. Hæderstegn: Air Medal, Purple Heart. (Kilde: ABMC)

Se tegning af besætningen på en B-17, Foto af en B-17 + B-17 i airmen.dk samt B-17 Ball Turret, Ammunition og Ball Turret Gunner. 10 flyvere.

Starting from Horham Airfield on 11 April 1944 B17 42-37876 was on a bombing raid Poznan (her). (Source: FT 87-92-3)

"The formation flew along the coast of North Germany during the approach. Off Kolberg (Kolobrzeg here) it was attacked by German fighters that shot rockets into the formation. Shortly after 42-37876 was hit in the left wing and drifted out of the formation, and 10 unfolded parachutes were observed. The body of Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Janofsky was brought to Svaneke (here) on 12 April 1944 by the cutter "Anna" to which the German ship "Josef Stadtland" had transferred the body. The deceased was buried on 14 April 1944 in Svaneke Churchyard by the Army chaplain of the German Wehrmacht. The other 9 crew members have no known grave." (FT 87-92-3)

Staff Sergeant Warren R. Messmer was the Top Turret Gunner. He has no known grave. (Source: MACR)
His name is inscribed on Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery, England.
He entered the Service from Iowa. Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart. (Source: ABMC)

See a drawing of the crew of a B-17, Photo of  a B-17 + B-17s in airmen.dk and B-17 Ball Turret, Ammunition and the story of a Ball Turret Gunner.
This B-17 belonged to 412th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bombardment Group, 13th Combat Bombardment Wing, 3rd Bombardment Division, 8th Air Force, USAAF.
See 95th Bomb Group Horham.  10 airmen.