The status of this crew is unknown. They were assigned to the 486th on 01/27/45, but are not known to have flown combat with the 486th. However, F/O Schwarz was involved in a taxi accident on 20 May 45. The following is known: On 20 May 45, F/O Schwarz, F/O Ezold, F/O Unger, SGT Kieser, SGT Resau, and SGT Dunkelburger were conducting a "round robin" night celestial navigation training exercise involving several aircraft. The aircraft began landing about 0230 hours. Some of the taxiing aircraft were cautioned to slow down, which included F/O Schwarz, flying aircraft 43-37945. Shortly after the warning, the control tower personnel called away the crash units to the 835th hardstands when a flame erupted in that area. A/C 942 had left the taxi track and its left wing had hit aircraft #891 (Old Man's Folly). A/C 891 was on hardstand #9 and was facing the opposite direction. The contact caused 945 to spin around and hit the tail of 891 head on. Both aircraft were lost. (NARA via Roland Andrews). |
CREW INFO | |||||
Name | Rank | Position | First Mission | Last Mission | Status |
Robert I. Schwarz | F/O | Pilot | |||
Wilfred J. Ezold | F/O | Copilot | |||
Walter W. Unger | F/O | Navigator | |||
William E. Rust | Bombardier | ||||
Leroy Kieser, Jr. | SGT | FE/Top | |||
Robert J. Resau | SGT | RO/Waist | |||
Robert E. Dunkelberger | SGT | Armorer/Gunner | |||
Paul C. Forrester | Gunner | ||||
Merle I. Noyes | Gunner |
Created 01/06/02 | Modified 12/23/16 |
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