- Thread starter
- #41
Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 42,944
- Mar 26, 2007
www.344bg-b26.org
October 6, 1944 trying to bomb Arnhem Bridge after Monty's folly, 'Market Garden'. From the MACR the crew that day was: 1/Lt. Herbert H. Moore, Jr.- pilot 2/Lt. Albert Allen – co-pilot 2/Lt. Edward Sadula- bombardier, navigator S/Sgt. Norman Traux- radio/ gunner S/Sgt Bernard Bielinski- Eng.-gunner Sgt George Boyer – TG Sgt. Einar Nielson- radio/gunner The plane was "Nick's Chick" 42-95918 as you have no doubt noticed it is but one digit off the serial number of "The Shop Worn Angel" (42-95917). From the MACR they were "(the) last plane in formation Number 5 position." They were hit by heavy flak immediately after dropping their bomb load from 12,500 ft. Sgt. Einar Nielson "…smelled gas and told them over the intercom phone." Lt. Moore ordered everyone to bail out. Navigator/bombardier Lt Sadula refused to come out of the nose until he had plotted a course back over enemy lines. Lt. Moore told S/Sgt Traux to open the door leading to the bomb-bays but the smoke forced him back. The tail fell off and the ends hurtled through space. It exploded at about 4000 feet, freeing Lt.'s Moore and Allen. Unfortunately, Lt. Sadula was in the pilot's compartment and his parachute was in the radio compartment. Boyer and Traux also went down with the plane. Bielinski received severe burns and a back injury, Allen had a broken leg and burns and Moore re-broke his left ankle and was hit with shrapnel in his right knee. They were all picked up by the Dutch Resistance.