Kaczaraba, William

Shot down on January 4, 1944, mission to Kiel, Germany, aboard B-17F 42-5838, "Mad Money II." All 10 POW. MACR 1483.

Aircraft was hit by flak over target, and tried to escape to Sweden. The aircraft left formation 5 minutes past Kiel, dropped blazing bomb-bay tank, then dropped his wheels on the turn from the target and left formation with 2 E/A attacking with unobserved results.Two engines were lost over Fyn, and the plane was spotted by a Ju 88 night fighter (on a day mission), piloted by Leutenant Stock and assisted by Flight Mechanic Uffz. Philipp. After 3 attacks, Kaczaraba made a perfect belly landing on the Asnaes Peninsula in Denmark, southwest of Kalundborg, and the crew set the plane on fire. The crew were taken prisoner of war by the Germans at approx. 1415 hours, and all 10 airmen were transferred to Dulag (Luft) at Oberursel on the 5th January by Air Base detachement A54/ II (Værløse).

• 1LT William Kaczaraba (P)

• 2LT Myron Clinton Morgan (CP)

• 2LT Marvin Lewis Horsky (N)

• 2LT Theodore Matthew Wirth (B)

• TSGT Wilbur Allen Peifer (RO)

• TSGT John Samuel Honeycutt (TT)

• SSGT Solomon Craden (BT)

• SSGT Harry Alexander Gilrane (RWG)

• SSGT Peter Franklin Parker (LWG)

• SSGT George Gibson Polley, Jr. (TG)

Information courtesy of Ole Stahl Nielsen and Finn Buch.