About the Airplane

The Missing Air Crew Reports No.
4845
The type of the plane.
B-24H
The plane ID.
42-52287
The name of the plane.
The squadron the bomber belongs to.
747th Bomb Squadron
The date of the bomber's crash.
1944-05-10
The reason for the bomber's crash.
Flak
The place the bomber targeted.
Wiener Neustadt
The place where the bomber crashed.
Rettenegg
Coordinates of the site the bomber was last seen at.
The city or village the bomber was last seen at.
Wr. Neustadt
The country or county the bomber was last seen at.
Time of the day the bomber was last seen at.
11:24
Time of the crash.
12:05
Comments.
Das Flugzeug wurde von Flakgeschossen an zwei Triebwerken getroffen und ging sofort in einen steilen Sturzflug über. Im Inneren brachen Brände aus. Nur vier Besatzungsmitglieder konnten sich lebend aus der Maschine retten. Zwei zogen sich jedoch so schwere Brandverletzungen zu, dass sie später im Lazarett verstarben.

Map of related places

The Crew

Name Rank Function Destiny
Beaver, Carl F. Sgt Gunner 6 KIA
Best, John T. Sgt Gunner 1 DOW
Jennings, John T. 2nd Lt Pilot Rtd
Johnson, Edwin A. Sgt Gunner 3 KIA
LaFemina, Alfred J. 2nd Lt Navigator DOW
Pedercini, John 2nd Lt Co-Pilot KIA
Rodgers, William R. 2nd Lt Bombardier KIA
Suit, Benjamin T. T/Sgt Gunner 2 KIA
Valenti, Salvatore J. Sgt Gunner 4 KIA
van Hole, Phillip J. Sgt Gunner 5 EUS

How to cite

DAACDA – Downed Allied Air Crew Database Austria, edited by Nicole-Melanie Goll, Georg Hoffmann and Peter Andorfer, Vienna 2025 (https://daacda.acdh.oeaw.ac.at/a-00187.html)