ROWE MISSION #8 - 3 October, 1944, Tuesday

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448th Bomb Group Replacement Crew #46’s Eighth Air Force Mission Records - World War II
The MISSING AIR CREW REPORT (#8468) includes a German report (unsigned) by Lt. and
Chief of the Battery dated 26 August, 1944 reporting a shoot-down of one Liberator at 10:45 o'clock
2 kilometers North of Trebur on the Street Tebur-Russelsheim near the place of a searchlight battery.
Burning on the wing was seen. Aircraft 90% destroyed. Stabilizer OK. Fuselage and motors burned
out. Eight crewmembers captured in the vicinity of Astheim, 2 kilometers West of crash. It lists all
the crewmembers except Vogel and Stonebraker. Another German report by Major Stephan and Staff
Officer of Airfield Command Weisbaden lists capture of Sgt. Vogel on 26 August, 1944 at 11:00
o’clock by Fw (Feldwebel) Becht from Vehicle Station Mains in the forest between Russelsheim and
A MAJOR CONCERN WAS A PIECE OF FLAK TEARING INTO YOUR BODY.
Trebur. Prisoner turned over by Fw Becht for further transportation. Papers or other objects were not
found on prisoner and he refused to make statements. Another German report 2 days later, 28 August,
1944 lists 9 crew members including Lt. Stonebraker with internment at Dulagluft, Wetzlar. One
other German report lists all twelve captured with internment at the Dulagluft. The National Archives
file contained the following statements from 4 of the crewmembers after their liberation:
LT. JOHN R. RICHARDS - Co-Pilot "I would like especially to commend Lt. Francis J.
Bergin for his calmness and courage under difficult conditions, and especially for his generosity and
unselfishness while a prisoner of war. In many instances during our march from Stalagluft 3 to
Stalagluft 7A he helped others that were sick and unable to do very much for themselves. William
Stonebraker bailed out approximately 3 minutes after target. Injured leg in landing. He was in prison
Stalagluft 3 and Stalagluft 7A. Francis J. Bergin bailed out approximately 2½ minutes after target.
He was uninjured. In prison Stalagluft 3 & 7A. Robert W. Ross bailed out approximately 2½
minutes after target. Clarence E. Williams bailed out approximately 2½ minutes after target. He
received injuries and lacerations of face as a result of civilians in Mannheim beating him with an iron
pipe. Wilbur J. Vogel bailed out approximately 2½ minutes after target. Lost consciousness on way
down. He was slightly injured during landing. Orville D. Stuard bailed out approximately 2½ minutes
after target. Tore ligaments in leg. Curtis L. Cagle bailed out approximately 2½ minutes after target.