Date: 1943 Dec 22/22 A/C Type: B-24 D  Liberator SN: 41-28609 Code: A/C Nickname:
 File: 790 Airforce: USAAF Sqn/Unit: 448 BG - 714 BS Mission/Raid: Osnabrück
1 Pilot 2Lt. Edward D. Hughey Jr.         MIA 9 RWG S/Sgt Richard B. Laing              MIA
2 Co-pilot 2Lt. Charles D. Hill                      MIA 10 TG S/Sgt John L. Keim             POW Texel Isle
3 Nav. 2Lt. Sumner W. Stevens            MIA 11    
4 B 2Lt. Edwin S. Jacobsen              MIA 12    
5 E S/Sgt Curtis L. Koon                   MIA 13    
6 RO S/Sgt James G. Hicks           POW Texel Isle 14    
7 BTG S/Sgt Carl Anderson                   MIA 15    
8 LWG S/Sgt Homer C. Risner   MIA (shot dead in a/c) 16                    

Return from Osnabrück was on high altitude, above a thick deck of clouds. Formation ran into intense Flak and fighter attacks on position 52°38'N-06°20'E. This is in the Netherlands, east of Staphorst. The bomber formation was scattered. Damaged aircraft lost speed and sank beneath the clouds, often again attacked by fighters. 22 bombers were lost from Osnabrück to the British coast.
 


Sgt. Hicks: "Over Freisen Isl. left ship through left waist window. Landed safely on island and was taken POW. Sgt. Keim was there also POW, he bailed out before explosion". 

No burial record of one of the missing crew found on Texel Island (Den Burg Cemetery). We believe the bomber just passed Texel Island, exploded (under fighter attack) and the parts came down west of Texel Island in the North Sea. Eight man crew MIA in North Sea, later declared dead.








































































 





Sources: 

- all MACR on the 22 December raid
http://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/american-war-cemetery-margraten-h/49057-hughey-edward-d-jr 
- On Stevens, incl. MACR photos: http://www.etiebax.nl/adoptiegraven/20/ 






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