David C. Foster
Pilot Lt. Robert L. Mains B-24 the "Red Bow", The full 10" x 8" original Photo. (Foto von Robert L. Lt Netz-B-24, Der vollständige 10 "x 8" Original-Foto.)
This set is in the process of being updated.
Crew from Missing Air Crew report (MACR) report for the mission on 4/4/1945 for the above photo.
Pilot: Robert L. Mains
Co-Pilot: John E. LaRiviere
Navigator: Allan L. Lake
Observer-Top Turret: George S. Alexander
Engineer-Flight Deck: Frank S Merkovich
Radio Operator: Charles E Cupp Jr
Left Waist Gunner: Harry J. Allen
Nose Gunner Gunner: Charles H. Daman
Right Waist Gunner: Anthony C Villari
Tail Gunner: Stuart D. Van Deventer
Lt. Robert Mains was a pilot of a replacement crew that joined the 448th, 714th Sq in Sep 1944.
His Crew:
Lt. Robert L. Mains (P)
Lt. Allen L. Lake (CP)
Lt. John B. Hankin Jr (N)
Lt. Jon W Johnson (B)
Cpl Charles E Cupp Jr
Cpl Harry G. Allen
Cpl Charles H Daman
Cpl Frank S Merkovich
Sgt. Antonio Munoz Jr
Cpl Anthony C Villari
were the crew members. (Changes may have been made)
This ship was a Ford-built B-24M, serial number 44-50838. She was shot down by a German Messerschmitt ME 262 (the first jet fighter ever used in aerial combat) on April 4th, 1945 by an R4M air-to-air missile. Ed Chu was a tail gunner in the 448th and saw Charlies plane go down and thought for sure no one survived. But fortunately for Chuck (Charles E. Cupp Jr.) he was able to jump out of the bomb bay doors and get his chute to open about 2000 feet above the ground for a safe landing even though he was captured by enemy forces.
History Credit to Harolds Tribute to the 448th: hqmc2.tripod.com/id6.html and Steve-0 www.flickr.com/photos/hawk914/
Photo Credit to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Harold Dorfman USAF, formally Navigator Lt. Dorfman 8th Air Force, 448th BG.
At that time in 8th, then Navigator Harold Dorfman was requested to fly the mission in place of another Navigator who was nervous due to it being his 35th and final mission. Since the other navigator was a good friend of his he agreed on the condition he would not replace him, but would fly with him to ensure he did his duties correctly. Thus and I quote he was not “officially on the plane” as a member of that crew and even though it was his 26th mission, it did not count. On this mission Lt. Dorfman took the photo. He still recalls the Me 262 flying into the formation and the mission details are noted in his diary from the 448th. He noted in his diary that all the crew members were lost and didn’t know one survived until today. He did take his camera along and took the photograph.
This is one of several combat photos he took during his tenure with the 448th.
Lt. Dorfman was an avid photographer before and during the WWII. Not being allowed to bring a camera to England he asked for advice in New York where to purchase one in London. He was able to take a roll of film to England. Once there he was able to get out of uniform and go to a camera shop and ask if they had a camera that would fit the film. At that time Lt. Dorfman was the top navigator in the 8th and word got out to Col. Charles Westover he was taking pictures while flying missions. Col. Westover was impressed with the photographs but due to regulations personal cameras were not permitted on missions, so Lt. Dorfman was made an official photographer with a military issued camera. However it became difficult to take photos and navigate at the same time, so he returned to being a navigator and Col. Westover unofficially allowed him to take photos with his old camera or what camera he was able to trade for in the London Shop.
All of his photos and diary (book) are copyrighted. However copies were donated to the 8th Air Force Museum.
Note: Several men in the 448th obtained prints of this photo, probably from the original negative. This is a high resolution scan from an original 10"x8". The dark wreckage to the right of the tail section contains the ball turret with the blurred image of the ball gunner still in it.
Via Google Translation:
"Lt Robert Netzstrom war ein Pilot eines Ersatz-Crew, die der 448., 714. Platz im Sep 1944.
Seine Besatzung:
Lt. Robert L. Mains (P)
Lt. Allen L. Lake (CP)
Lt. John B. Hankin Jr (N)
Lt. Jon W Johnson (B)
Cpl Charles E Cupp Jr
Cpl Harry G. Allen
Cpl Charles H Daman
Cpl Frank S Merkovich
Sgt. Antonio Munoz Jr
Cpl Anthony C Villari
wurden die Besatzungsmitglieder. (Änderungen vorgenommen wurden)
Dieses Schiff war ein Ford-gebaute B-24m, Seriennummer 44-50838. Sie wurde abgeschossen von einem deutschen Messerschmitt Me 262 (das erste Düsenjäger jemals in Luftkampf) am 4. April 1945 von einem R4M Luft-Luft-Rakete. Ed Chu war ein Kanonier Schwanz in der 448. und sah Charlies Flugzeug gehen und dachte sicherlich niemand überlebt. Aber zum Glück für Chuck (Charles E. Cupp Jr.) konnte er direkt aus der Bombe Bucht Türen und seine Rutsche zu öffnen über 2000 Meter über dem Boden für eine sichere Landung auch wenn er gefangen genommen wurde durch feindliche Kräfte.
Geschichte Dank an Harolds Hommage an die 448.: hqmc2.tripod.com/id6.html"
Pilot Lt. Robert L. Mains B-24 the "Red Bow", The full 10" x 8" original Photo. (Foto von Robert L. Lt Netz-B-24, Der vollständige 10 "x 8" Original-Foto.)
This set is in the process of being updated.
Crew from Missing Air Crew report (MACR) report for the mission on 4/4/1945 for the above photo.
Pilot: Robert L. Mains
Co-Pilot: John E. LaRiviere
Navigator: Allan L. Lake
Observer-Top Turret: George S. Alexander
Engineer-Flight Deck: Frank S Merkovich
Radio Operator: Charles E Cupp Jr
Left Waist Gunner: Harry J. Allen
Nose Gunner Gunner: Charles H. Daman
Right Waist Gunner: Anthony C Villari
Tail Gunner: Stuart D. Van Deventer
Lt. Robert Mains was a pilot of a replacement crew that joined the 448th, 714th Sq in Sep 1944.
His Crew:
Lt. Robert L. Mains (P)
Lt. Allen L. Lake (CP)
Lt. John B. Hankin Jr (N)
Lt. Jon W Johnson (B)
Cpl Charles E Cupp Jr
Cpl Harry G. Allen
Cpl Charles H Daman
Cpl Frank S Merkovich
Sgt. Antonio Munoz Jr
Cpl Anthony C Villari
were the crew members. (Changes may have been made)
This ship was a Ford-built B-24M, serial number 44-50838. She was shot down by a German Messerschmitt ME 262 (the first jet fighter ever used in aerial combat) on April 4th, 1945 by an R4M air-to-air missile. Ed Chu was a tail gunner in the 448th and saw Charlies plane go down and thought for sure no one survived. But fortunately for Chuck (Charles E. Cupp Jr.) he was able to jump out of the bomb bay doors and get his chute to open about 2000 feet above the ground for a safe landing even though he was captured by enemy forces.
History Credit to Harolds Tribute to the 448th: hqmc2.tripod.com/id6.html and Steve-0 www.flickr.com/photos/hawk914/
Photo Credit to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Harold Dorfman USAF, formally Navigator Lt. Dorfman 8th Air Force, 448th BG.
At that time in 8th, then Navigator Harold Dorfman was requested to fly the mission in place of another Navigator who was nervous due to it being his 35th and final mission. Since the other navigator was a good friend of his he agreed on the condition he would not replace him, but would fly with him to ensure he did his duties correctly. Thus and I quote he was not “officially on the plane” as a member of that crew and even though it was his 26th mission, it did not count. On this mission Lt. Dorfman took the photo. He still recalls the Me 262 flying into the formation and the mission details are noted in his diary from the 448th. He noted in his diary that all the crew members were lost and didn’t know one survived until today. He did take his camera along and took the photograph.
This is one of several combat photos he took during his tenure with the 448th.
Lt. Dorfman was an avid photographer before and during the WWII. Not being allowed to bring a camera to England he asked for advice in New York where to purchase one in London. He was able to take a roll of film to England. Once there he was able to get out of uniform and go to a camera shop and ask if they had a camera that would fit the film. At that time Lt. Dorfman was the top navigator in the 8th and word got out to Col. Charles Westover he was taking pictures while flying missions. Col. Westover was impressed with the photographs but due to regulations personal cameras were not permitted on missions, so Lt. Dorfman was made an official photographer with a military issued camera. However it became difficult to take photos and navigate at the same time, so he returned to being a navigator and Col. Westover unofficially allowed him to take photos with his old camera or what camera he was able to trade for in the London Shop.
All of his photos and diary (book) are copyrighted. However copies were donated to the 8th Air Force Museum.
Note: Several men in the 448th obtained prints of this photo, probably from the original negative. This is a high resolution scan from an original 10"x8". The dark wreckage to the right of the tail section contains the ball turret with the blurred image of the ball gunner still in it.
Via Google Translation:
"Lt Robert Netzstrom war ein Pilot eines Ersatz-Crew, die der 448., 714. Platz im Sep 1944.
Seine Besatzung:
Lt. Robert L. Mains (P)
Lt. Allen L. Lake (CP)
Lt. John B. Hankin Jr (N)
Lt. Jon W Johnson (B)
Cpl Charles E Cupp Jr
Cpl Harry G. Allen
Cpl Charles H Daman
Cpl Frank S Merkovich
Sgt. Antonio Munoz Jr
Cpl Anthony C Villari
wurden die Besatzungsmitglieder. (Änderungen vorgenommen wurden)
Dieses Schiff war ein Ford-gebaute B-24m, Seriennummer 44-50838. Sie wurde abgeschossen von einem deutschen Messerschmitt Me 262 (das erste Düsenjäger jemals in Luftkampf) am 4. April 1945 von einem R4M Luft-Luft-Rakete. Ed Chu war ein Kanonier Schwanz in der 448. und sah Charlies Flugzeug gehen und dachte sicherlich niemand überlebt. Aber zum Glück für Chuck (Charles E. Cupp Jr.) konnte er direkt aus der Bombe Bucht Türen und seine Rutsche zu öffnen über 2000 Meter über dem Boden für eine sichere Landung auch wenn er gefangen genommen wurde durch feindliche Kräfte.
Geschichte Dank an Harolds Hommage an die 448.: hqmc2.tripod.com/id6.html"