Heinz' Crew

A/C 499 was flying in number 3 position of the lead element of the high squadron of the 486th Group. This group was the 4E group of the 4th Combat Wing. Flak in the target area was intense and accurate. Aircraft was hit by flak in the target area; crews are of the opinion that the Tokyo tank in the right wing was hit. At 1415 MET, location 57ö 27'N-09ö 34'E, altitude 25,000, black smoke was seen coming out of the right wing. The aircraft pulled off to the left of the formation and the crew members started to clear the ship. The Hunter and Frese crews observed 8 chutes. Then the right wing tip broke off and the aircraft turned over and another man bailed out. All men cleared the A/C and all chutes opened. The A/C was last seen going down through clouds with the right wing burning.

SGT Cole later filed a report of the downing. He reports that Scott, Brock, all and Wright jumped with him when the order to bail out came. They were rounded up by Germans soldiers once they were on the ground. However, he did not observed the other crewmen exit the aircraft, and assumed they perished when the aircraft blew up in the air. Everyone with Cole was injured, Scott's injuries were serious, and was carried on a stretcher.

SGT Cole also states that SGT Allen saw SGT Lopez in a school house. SGT Lopez landed alive, but later died from his injuries. According to Allen, Lopez told the school teacher he was Spanish before had died.  It is not know if his injuries were sustained in the air, or inflicted by the Germans after he landed. Wright had told Cole that Lopez did have trouble exiting the aircraft, and the delay getting him out may have cost the other crewmen their lives.

SGT Brock's report states that he was told by Scott, that SGT Myers had passed out from lack of oxygen as he prepared to bail out. He was revived and exited the aircraft, and was killed once he landed. To his knowledge everyone bailed successfully, but Heinz, Landeck and Myers were most likely killed by Germans. (MACR 11152)

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