November 11, 1944--386th Bomb Group Mission Number 293. Target: Communications Center located at Putzlohn, Germany.

November 11, 1944 - 386th Bomb Group Mission Number 293:
Target: Communications Center located at Putzlohn, Germany.

Subject: Lost aircraft.

The lead flight only had three planes, which were being led by Captain Liston of the 552nd Bomb Squadron. A plane flying in the low flight, number three position was in the process of maneuvering into formation at 4,000 feet; when it got too close to the lead plane. At that moment Lieutenant Chester Douglas flying behind and a bit below in number six position - called on his radio to warn the number three position pilot that he was flying too close to the lead ship!

Wing tip vortices (circulatory motion of air about an airfoil - often times simply referred to as prop wash) from the lead plane in the low flight destroyed the lift over the right wing of the errant plane. Thus causing it to whip over upside down and back over the top of number six plane flown by Lieutenant Douglas. At that point Lieutenant Dick Cummings in number five position directly across from Lieutenant Douglas dumped his ship out of formation down to the right side of the flight.

In a flash the doomed plane entered into a violent spin behind the number four plane in the space where seconds before the number five and number six ships had been flying. Lieutenant Williams plane crashed and exploded at 1105 hours while carrying thirty 100-pound demolition bombs, along with 5,000 rounds of fifty-caliber ammunition, and approximately 950gallons of high-test aviation fuel. The crash site was in the vicinity of west of Rantigny, and south of Bois de la Sablonniere, France. The entire fight crew was killed! A witness by the name of, Jean Hugo recalled, “There were many people outside due to the November 11th, 1918 commemoration ceremonies concerning the end of World War One. We heard a very loud noise, like an explosion. The plane crashed south of Bois de la Sablonniere, it was full of bombs, all crew killed!”

During mission interrogation process, Lieutenant Cummings mentioned that he could see Lieutenant Williams wings wobbling, the ship reared up nearly colliding into other planes in the flight. He also heard a pilot call on the radio to Lieutenant Williams warning him about flying too close! Lieutenant Cummings further stated that it was believed the pilot probably had more pilot time than any other pilot in the squadron; due to the fact that he had been a flight instructor in the U.S, teaching cadets advanced flying technique prior to joining the 386th Bomb Group. However he was woefully inexperienced in Martin B-26 formation flying. Another fact was learned during interrogation, Lieutenant Williams was heard to remark to a crewmember, ”I’m not sure I am ready for this!” It was his first mission as pilot in command, some eight minutes into the flight; he and his crew were dead!

The flight crewmembers:
Pilot, 2nd LT. Kenneth I. Williams
Co-pilot Flight Officer Glenn H. Tiger
B/N 2nd Lt. Leo A. Kelm

Gunners:
Sergeant Donald E. Kelly
Sergeant Homer C. Land
Sergeant Hubert G. Misner

Aircraft type: Martin B-26 334370 AN-D

Note: Location of the crash site and eyewitness report were furnished by Alain Bodel who lives in France.
Chester P. Klier
Historian, 386th Bomb Group