Pilot 2nd/Lt. Henry C. LoPresto POW
The last known residence in 1945 for LoPresto was Los Angeles, California
Squadron: 576th BS 392th Bomb Group
Date Lost:20 Dec 1943
TARGET: BREMEN
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT:#01734
AIRCRAFT: ##42-7500 "Sky Queen" "D" 9th mission
Location: northwest of Bremen
Cause: flak and fighter attack 4KIA 6POW
For the fourth time in just nine missions, the 392nd was again assigned Bremen as its target. The 577th Squadron led the Group which launched twenty-two ships for the mission. Twenty-one (21)B-24s were over target releasing 1,134 100# bombs on the primary aiming point using PFF methods with good results. Again heavy AA defenses and enemy aircraft attacks were experienced. Some 8-10 single and twin-engine fighters pressed attacks but no gunner claims were made. One aircraft was lost on this mission, cause listed as unknown. Fifteen (15) were damaged, the major cause of which was resulting flak AA fire including one B-24 which crash-landed. Casualties for the Group were heavy once again over this target as one aircrew member was KIA, (11) members were MIA and (4) were injured. Total flight time for this mission was 6:30 hours.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: After the war, Lt. LoPresto made a sworn deposition concerning the mission and, in particular, events surrounding the loss of Lt. Siggs, the crew Navigator. In this report he noted that the entire formation had come under intense enemy fighter attack at the Initial Point (IP) for the bomb run - which lasted all through the target and afterwards. His ship took numerous flak hits over the target, and again fighter gun fire after the target. Aircraft damage was so grave then that he ordered abandon ship at an altitude of about 21,000 feet. He related that his Bombardier, Lt. Machak, later told him that the Navigator was prepared to bail out through the ship's nose wheel well, but changed his mind to go out the bomb bay instead. This event of Lt. Siggs crawling toward the bomb bay area was the last seen of him. At 10,000 feet, the Pilot's report indicated that he then bailed out, having been assured in his mind that all other members had done likewise. Just as the Pilot bailed out, the ship took more severe hits in the lower part of the flight deck from attacking fighters so that he did not know for certain whether Lt. Siggs was in that part of the plane or not, attempting to reach the bomb bay area. He noted lastly that the aircraft was then very close to the North Sea and thought that it crashed in the water as it was never found from what he had learned later. On 31 August 1945, a higher headquarters followup reported that interrogation of Lt. Collins, the Co-Pilot, also verified that the Navigator, Lt. Siggs, must have been wounded or killed in the final enemy fighter attacks and crashed with the plane. Sgt. Ross, another crew member, stated also that he had observed Lt. Siggs kneeling and about to enter the bomb bay area when the explosion of the latter occurred and this conflagration occurred in the very location where Lt. Siggs knelt. Sgt. Ross' statement was dated 2 November 1945, Gainesville, Texas. A German report (barely readable) of 20 December stated that Lt. LoPresto and other surviving crew members were taken prisoner on the same date between 1130 and 1500 hours northwest of Bremen. Three (3) members were reported by the Germans as found dead, but were listed as "unknowns" in identity. A German report said S/Sgt Plucket was seriously wounded and had been placed in an infirmary.
"Sky Queen" CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
Pilot 2/LT Henry C. LoPresto POW
Co Pilot 2nd/LT John M. Collins POW
Navigator 2/LT Peter S. Siggs KIA
Bombardier 2/LT John G. Machak POW
Eng. T/S Grover H. Hawkins KIA
Eng. T/S Grover H. Hawkins KIA
R/O T/S Eli Solomon Ross, Jr POW
WG S/SFrank M. Westall POW
WG S/S Joseph F. Plucket POW
WG S/S Edward L. Gilliam KIA
TG S/S George Sambanis KIA
TG S/S George Sambanis KIA
The last known residence in 1945 for LoPresto was Los Angeles, California
Squadron: 576th BS 392th Bomb Group
Date Lost:20 Dec 1943
TARGET: BREMEN
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT:#01734
AIRCRAFT: ##42-7500 "Sky Queen" "D" 9th mission
Location: northwest of Bremen
Cause: flak and fighter attack 4KIA 6POW
For the fourth time in just nine missions, the 392nd was again assigned Bremen as its target. The 577th Squadron led the Group which launched twenty-two ships for the mission. Twenty-one (21)B-24s were over target releasing 1,134 100# bombs on the primary aiming point using PFF methods with good results. Again heavy AA defenses and enemy aircraft attacks were experienced. Some 8-10 single and twin-engine fighters pressed attacks but no gunner claims were made. One aircraft was lost on this mission, cause listed as unknown. Fifteen (15) were damaged, the major cause of which was resulting flak AA fire including one B-24 which crash-landed. Casualties for the Group were heavy once again over this target as one aircrew member was KIA, (11) members were MIA and (4) were injured. Total flight time for this mission was 6:30 hours.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: After the war, Lt. LoPresto made a sworn deposition concerning the mission and, in particular, events surrounding the loss of Lt. Siggs, the crew Navigator. In this report he noted that the entire formation had come under intense enemy fighter attack at the Initial Point (IP) for the bomb run - which lasted all through the target and afterwards. His ship took numerous flak hits over the target, and again fighter gun fire after the target. Aircraft damage was so grave then that he ordered abandon ship at an altitude of about 21,000 feet. He related that his Bombardier, Lt. Machak, later told him that the Navigator was prepared to bail out through the ship's nose wheel well, but changed his mind to go out the bomb bay instead. This event of Lt. Siggs crawling toward the bomb bay area was the last seen of him. At 10,000 feet, the Pilot's report indicated that he then bailed out, having been assured in his mind that all other members had done likewise. Just as the Pilot bailed out, the ship took more severe hits in the lower part of the flight deck from attacking fighters so that he did not know for certain whether Lt. Siggs was in that part of the plane or not, attempting to reach the bomb bay area. He noted lastly that the aircraft was then very close to the North Sea and thought that it crashed in the water as it was never found from what he had learned later. On 31 August 1945, a higher headquarters followup reported that interrogation of Lt. Collins, the Co-Pilot, also verified that the Navigator, Lt. Siggs, must have been wounded or killed in the final enemy fighter attacks and crashed with the plane. Sgt. Ross, another crew member, stated also that he had observed Lt. Siggs kneeling and about to enter the bomb bay area when the explosion of the latter occurred and this conflagration occurred in the very location where Lt. Siggs knelt. Sgt. Ross' statement was dated 2 November 1945, Gainesville, Texas. A German report (barely readable) of 20 December stated that Lt. LoPresto and other surviving crew members were taken prisoner on the same date between 1130 and 1500 hours northwest of Bremen. Three (3) members were reported by the Germans as found dead, but were listed as "unknowns" in identity. A German report said S/Sgt Plucket was seriously wounded and had been placed in an infirmary.
"Sky Queen" CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
Pilot 2/LT Henry C. LoPresto POW
Co Pilot 2nd/LT John M. Collins POW
Navigator 2/LT Peter S. Siggs KIA
Bombardier 2/LT John G. Machak POW
Eng. T/S Grover H. Hawkins KIA
Eng. T/S Grover H. Hawkins KIA
R/O T/S Eli Solomon Ross, Jr POW
WG S/SFrank M. Westall POW
WG S/S Joseph F. Plucket POW
WG S/S Edward L. Gilliam KIA
TG S/S George Sambanis KIA
TG S/S George Sambanis KIA
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Henry C. LoPresto POW
The last known residence in 1945 for LoPresto was Los Angeles, California
Squadron: 576th BS 392th Bomb Group
Date Lost:20 Dec 1943
TARGET: BREMEN
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT:#01734
AIRCRAFT: ##42-7500 "Sky Queen" "D" 9th mission
Location: northwest of Bremen
Cause: flak and fighter attack 4KIA 6POW
For the fourth time in just nine missions, the 392nd was again assigned Bremen as its target. The 577th Squadron led the Group which launched twenty-two ships for the mission. Twenty-one (21)B-24s were over target releasing 1,134 100# bombs on the primary aiming point using PFF methods with good results. Again heavy AA defenses and enemy aircraft attacks were experienced. Some 8-10 single and twin-engine fighters pressed attacks but no gunner claims were made. One aircraft was lost on this mission, cause listed as unknown. Fifteen (15) were damaged, the major cause of which was resulting flak AA fire including one B-24 which crash-landed. Casualties for the Group were heavy once again over this target as one aircrew member was KIA, (11) members were MIA and (4) were injured. Total flight time for this mission was 6:30 hours.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: After the war, Lt. LoPresto made a sworn deposition concerning the mission and, in particular, events surrounding the loss of Lt. Siggs, the crew Navigator. In this report he noted that the entire formation had come under intense enemy fighter attack at the Initial Point (IP) for the bomb run - which lasted all through the target and afterwards. His ship took numerous flak hits over the target, and again fighter gun fire after the target. Aircraft damage was so grave then that he ordered abandon ship at an altitude of about 21,000 feet. He related that his Bombardier, Lt. Machak, later told him that the Navigator was prepared to bail out through the ship's nose wheel well, but changed his mind to go out the bomb bay instead. This event of Lt. Siggs crawling toward the bomb bay area was the last seen of him. At 10,000 feet, the Pilot's report indicated that he then bailed out, having been assured in his mind that all other members had done likewise. Just as the Pilot bailed out, the ship took more severe hits in the lower part of the flight deck from attacking fighters so that he did not know for certain whether Lt. Siggs was in that part of the plane or not, attempting to reach the bomb bay area. He noted lastly that the aircraft was then very close to the North Sea and thought that it crashed in the water as it was never found from what he had learned later. On 31 August 1945, a higher headquarters followup reported that interrogation of Lt. Collins, the Co-Pilot, also verified that the Navigator, Lt. Siggs, must have been wounded or killed in the final enemy fighter attacks and crashed with the plane. Sgt. Ross, another crew member, stated also that he had observed Lt. Siggs kneeling and about to enter the bomb bay area when the explosion of the latter occurred and this conflagration occurred in the very location where Lt. Siggs knelt. Sgt. Ross' statement was dated 2 November 1945, Gainesville, Texas. A German report (barely readable) of 20 December stated that Lt. LoPresto and other surviving crew members were taken prisoner on the same date between 1130 and 1500 hours northwest of Bremen. Three (3) members were reported by the Germans as found dead, but were listed as "unknowns" in identity. A German report said S/Sgt Plucket was seriously wounded and had been placed in an infirmary.
"Sky Queen" CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
Pilot 2/LT Henry C. LoPresto POW
Co Pilot 2nd/LT John M. Collins POW
Navigator 2/LT Peter S. Siggs KIA
Bombardier 2/LT John G. Machak POW
Eng. T/S Grover H. Hawkins KIA
Eng. T/S Grover H. Hawkins KIA
R/O T/S Eli Solomon Ross, Jr POW
WG S/SFrank M. Westall POW
WG S/S Joseph F. Plucket POW
WG S/S Edward L. Gilliam KIA
TG S/S George Sambanis KIA
TG S/S George Sambanis KIA
The last known residence in 1945 for LoPresto was Los Angeles, California
Squadron: 576th BS 392th Bomb Group
Date Lost:20 Dec 1943
TARGET: BREMEN
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT:#01734
AIRCRAFT: ##42-7500 "Sky Queen" "D" 9th mission
Location: northwest of Bremen
Cause: flak and fighter attack 4KIA 6POW
For the fourth time in just nine missions, the 392nd was again assigned Bremen as its target. The 577th Squadron led the Group which launched twenty-two ships for the mission. Twenty-one (21)B-24s were over target releasing 1,134 100# bombs on the primary aiming point using PFF methods with good results. Again heavy AA defenses and enemy aircraft attacks were experienced. Some 8-10 single and twin-engine fighters pressed attacks but no gunner claims were made. One aircraft was lost on this mission, cause listed as unknown. Fifteen (15) were damaged, the major cause of which was resulting flak AA fire including one B-24 which crash-landed. Casualties for the Group were heavy once again over this target as one aircrew member was KIA, (11) members were MIA and (4) were injured. Total flight time for this mission was 6:30 hours.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: After the war, Lt. LoPresto made a sworn deposition concerning the mission and, in particular, events surrounding the loss of Lt. Siggs, the crew Navigator. In this report he noted that the entire formation had come under intense enemy fighter attack at the Initial Point (IP) for the bomb run - which lasted all through the target and afterwards. His ship took numerous flak hits over the target, and again fighter gun fire after the target. Aircraft damage was so grave then that he ordered abandon ship at an altitude of about 21,000 feet. He related that his Bombardier, Lt. Machak, later told him that the Navigator was prepared to bail out through the ship's nose wheel well, but changed his mind to go out the bomb bay instead. This event of Lt. Siggs crawling toward the bomb bay area was the last seen of him. At 10,000 feet, the Pilot's report indicated that he then bailed out, having been assured in his mind that all other members had done likewise. Just as the Pilot bailed out, the ship took more severe hits in the lower part of the flight deck from attacking fighters so that he did not know for certain whether Lt. Siggs was in that part of the plane or not, attempting to reach the bomb bay area. He noted lastly that the aircraft was then very close to the North Sea and thought that it crashed in the water as it was never found from what he had learned later. On 31 August 1945, a higher headquarters followup reported that interrogation of Lt. Collins, the Co-Pilot, also verified that the Navigator, Lt. Siggs, must have been wounded or killed in the final enemy fighter attacks and crashed with the plane. Sgt. Ross, another crew member, stated also that he had observed Lt. Siggs kneeling and about to enter the bomb bay area when the explosion of the latter occurred and this conflagration occurred in the very location where Lt. Siggs knelt. Sgt. Ross' statement was dated 2 November 1945, Gainesville, Texas. A German report (barely readable) of 20 December stated that Lt. LoPresto and other surviving crew members were taken prisoner on the same date between 1130 and 1500 hours northwest of Bremen. Three (3) members were reported by the Germans as found dead, but were listed as "unknowns" in identity. A German report said S/Sgt Plucket was seriously wounded and had been placed in an infirmary.
"Sky Queen" CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
Pilot 2/LT Henry C. LoPresto POW
Co Pilot 2nd/LT John M. Collins POW
Navigator 2/LT Peter S. Siggs KIA
Bombardier 2/LT John G. Machak POW
Eng. T/S Grover H. Hawkins KIA
Eng. T/S Grover H. Hawkins KIA
R/O T/S Eli Solomon Ross, Jr POW
WG S/SFrank M. Westall POW
WG S/S Joseph F. Plucket POW
WG S/S Edward L. Gilliam KIA
TG S/S George Sambanis KIA
TG S/S George Sambanis KIA
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