Pilot 1st/Lt. Mervyn T. Johns POW
Hometown: Schoolfield, Virginia
Squadron: 576th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service
Awards:
Target: Gotha
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#: 02947
Date Lost: 24-Feb-44
Serial Number: #42-7511
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:"L"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 32nd Mission
Location near the town of Oberurfhausen-Hunberg
Cause: massive enemy fighter attack Crew of 10 3KIA 7POW
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
The 392d Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 24 February 1944.
This mission was to go down in the annals of bombardment aerial warfare history as one of the most vital strikes ever made in World War II against Germany. The 392nd was to play the most important role in leading (6) of the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 Groups to the correct target when the leading Combat Wing of (3) Liberator Groups made a critical navigational error and turned to an incorrect attack heading thus, turning a near-disastrous mission for the Division into one of the most successful ever executed. The 392nd losses would be extremely heavy this day from some of the most fierce and relentless enemy fighter attacks ever encountered for such a long period of time over 21/2 hours into and from the target area. The following summaries taken from the Group's tactical mission records relates in small measure the history of that raid the ‘Battle of Gotha'. The destruction of this high priority target was a serious blow to the GAF and was a contributing factor to its impotency in the invasion of Continental Europe.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: This plane and aircrew came under massive enemy fighter attacks immediately after the bombing run on the Gotha target. There were no returning aircrew eye-witness accounts specifically dealing with the downing of this aircrew. What is known is that (7) of the ten crewmembers were taken as Prisoners, and (3). A local German report, #KU 992 describing the taking of the seven men as POWs was dated the same day, 24 February. This report also cites the recovery of the (3) dead crewmen, two of which were positively identified by their tags, Lt. Doyle and Sgt. Payton and the third body listed as "unknown" at the time, which later proved to be that of Lt. Barnett. The bodies were found near the town of Oberurfhausen-Hunberg, District of Hersfeld. The deceased crewmembers were found the day after, 25 February 1944. On the situation about the crew's emergency which was filed later after the war by one of the repatriated crewmembers, name unknown in the MACR records, it was stated that the plane was on fire under the flight deck and part of one of the rudders had been shot off which caused the ship to be somewhat out of control when he bailed out.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: It was reliably reported by Lt. Henderson after his release from POW status that it was known that all (10) crewmembers had successfully bailed out of their stricken ship. His report noted that they were shot up near the target by fighters with #3 engine on fire as well as the fuel tanks. He bailed out through the rear camera hatch in the waist, and there was no other crew person in the ship at this time except the Pilot. He further stated that hearsay information came to him by the Pilot later which noted that no members were found in their ship when it crashed. It was also stated that to the knowledge of Lt. Henderson, the Co-Pilot, no crewmember was injured at time of their bail out. Another revealing sidelight concerning the fate of one of the two crewmen was a German report #47/89 out of an Air Ministry in Munster and dated 8 August 1944 which reflected the death and burial of one of the Waist Gunners, Sgt. Zerangue. This report listed the date of this crewmember's death as, 30/31 March 1944, over (30) days after the crew was shot down. No other facts were stated in this German Report. Based on this information, it can be concluded that this man had successfully evaded capture until the above date, however, his exact cause of death is not known. The German report merely states cause of death as: "shot down, type of aircraft not established". It continued to say that he was found at a location named Wahrda, County of Hersfeld.
Lt. Johns was repatriated at the end of WW2 and had a long successful USAAF career retiring as Lt. Colonel.
The #42-7511 crew
1st/Lt. Mervyn T. Johns Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Milton A. Henderson Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt.Frank A. Silvasy Navigator
2nd/Lt. Eugene R. Sriver Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Jack W. Indahl Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Edward J. Gressler Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. Charles L. Kenyon Gunner
S/Sgt. Felix A. Zerangue Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. William Przeniczny Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Ismael V. Sanchez Gunner
Hometown: Schoolfield, Virginia
Squadron: 576th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service
Awards:
Target: Gotha
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#: 02947
Date Lost: 24-Feb-44
Serial Number: #42-7511
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:"L"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 32nd Mission
Location near the town of Oberurfhausen-Hunberg
Cause: massive enemy fighter attack Crew of 10 3KIA 7POW
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
The 392d Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 24 February 1944.
This mission was to go down in the annals of bombardment aerial warfare history as one of the most vital strikes ever made in World War II against Germany. The 392nd was to play the most important role in leading (6) of the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 Groups to the correct target when the leading Combat Wing of (3) Liberator Groups made a critical navigational error and turned to an incorrect attack heading thus, turning a near-disastrous mission for the Division into one of the most successful ever executed. The 392nd losses would be extremely heavy this day from some of the most fierce and relentless enemy fighter attacks ever encountered for such a long period of time over 21/2 hours into and from the target area. The following summaries taken from the Group's tactical mission records relates in small measure the history of that raid the ‘Battle of Gotha'. The destruction of this high priority target was a serious blow to the GAF and was a contributing factor to its impotency in the invasion of Continental Europe.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: This plane and aircrew came under massive enemy fighter attacks immediately after the bombing run on the Gotha target. There were no returning aircrew eye-witness accounts specifically dealing with the downing of this aircrew. What is known is that (7) of the ten crewmembers were taken as Prisoners, and (3). A local German report, #KU 992 describing the taking of the seven men as POWs was dated the same day, 24 February. This report also cites the recovery of the (3) dead crewmen, two of which were positively identified by their tags, Lt. Doyle and Sgt. Payton and the third body listed as "unknown" at the time, which later proved to be that of Lt. Barnett. The bodies were found near the town of Oberurfhausen-Hunberg, District of Hersfeld. The deceased crewmembers were found the day after, 25 February 1944. On the situation about the crew's emergency which was filed later after the war by one of the repatriated crewmembers, name unknown in the MACR records, it was stated that the plane was on fire under the flight deck and part of one of the rudders had been shot off which caused the ship to be somewhat out of control when he bailed out.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: It was reliably reported by Lt. Henderson after his release from POW status that it was known that all (10) crewmembers had successfully bailed out of their stricken ship. His report noted that they were shot up near the target by fighters with #3 engine on fire as well as the fuel tanks. He bailed out through the rear camera hatch in the waist, and there was no other crew person in the ship at this time except the Pilot. He further stated that hearsay information came to him by the Pilot later which noted that no members were found in their ship when it crashed. It was also stated that to the knowledge of Lt. Henderson, the Co-Pilot, no crewmember was injured at time of their bail out. Another revealing sidelight concerning the fate of one of the two crewmen was a German report #47/89 out of an Air Ministry in Munster and dated 8 August 1944 which reflected the death and burial of one of the Waist Gunners, Sgt. Zerangue. This report listed the date of this crewmember's death as, 30/31 March 1944, over (30) days after the crew was shot down. No other facts were stated in this German Report. Based on this information, it can be concluded that this man had successfully evaded capture until the above date, however, his exact cause of death is not known. The German report merely states cause of death as: "shot down, type of aircraft not established". It continued to say that he was found at a location named Wahrda, County of Hersfeld.
Lt. Johns was repatriated at the end of WW2 and had a long successful USAAF career retiring as Lt. Colonel.
The #42-7511 crew
1st/Lt. Mervyn T. Johns Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Milton A. Henderson Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt.Frank A. Silvasy Navigator
2nd/Lt. Eugene R. Sriver Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Jack W. Indahl Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Edward J. Gressler Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. Charles L. Kenyon Gunner
S/Sgt. Felix A. Zerangue Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. William Przeniczny Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Ismael V. Sanchez Gunner
Pilot 1st/Lt. Mervyn T. Johns POW
Hometown: Schoolfield, Virginia
Squadron: 576th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service
Awards:
Target: Gotha
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#: 02947
Date Lost: 24-Feb-44
Serial Number: #42-7511
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:"L"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 32nd Mission
Location near the town of Oberurfhausen-Hunberg
Cause: massive enemy fighter attack Crew of 10 3KIA 7POW
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
The 392d Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 24 February 1944.
This mission was to go down in the annals of bombardment aerial warfare history as one of the most vital strikes ever made in World War II against Germany. The 392nd was to play the most important role in leading (6) of the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 Groups to the correct target when the leading Combat Wing of (3) Liberator Groups made a critical navigational error and turned to an incorrect attack heading thus, turning a near-disastrous mission for the Division into one of the most successful ever executed. The 392nd losses would be extremely heavy this day from some of the most fierce and relentless enemy fighter attacks ever encountered for such a long period of time over 21/2 hours into and from the target area. The following summaries taken from the Group's tactical mission records relates in small measure the history of that raid the ‘Battle of Gotha'. The destruction of this high priority target was a serious blow to the GAF and was a contributing factor to its impotency in the invasion of Continental Europe.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: This plane and aircrew came under massive enemy fighter attacks immediately after the bombing run on the Gotha target. There were no returning aircrew eye-witness accounts specifically dealing with the downing of this aircrew. What is known is that (7) of the ten crewmembers were taken as Prisoners, and (3). A local German report, #KU 992 describing the taking of the seven men as POWs was dated the same day, 24 February. This report also cites the recovery of the (3) dead crewmen, two of which were positively identified by their tags, Lt. Doyle and Sgt. Payton and the third body listed as "unknown" at the time, which later proved to be that of Lt. Barnett. The bodies were found near the town of Oberurfhausen-Hunberg, District of Hersfeld. The deceased crewmembers were found the day after, 25 February 1944. On the situation about the crew's emergency which was filed later after the war by one of the repatriated crewmembers, name unknown in the MACR records, it was stated that the plane was on fire under the flight deck and part of one of the rudders had been shot off which caused the ship to be somewhat out of control when he bailed out.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: It was reliably reported by Lt. Henderson after his release from POW status that it was known that all (10) crewmembers had successfully bailed out of their stricken ship. His report noted that they were shot up near the target by fighters with #3 engine on fire as well as the fuel tanks. He bailed out through the rear camera hatch in the waist, and there was no other crew person in the ship at this time except the Pilot. He further stated that hearsay information came to him by the Pilot later which noted that no members were found in their ship when it crashed. It was also stated that to the knowledge of Lt. Henderson, the Co-Pilot, no crewmember was injured at time of their bail out. Another revealing sidelight concerning the fate of one of the two crewmen was a German report #47/89 out of an Air Ministry in Munster and dated 8 August 1944 which reflected the death and burial of one of the Waist Gunners, Sgt. Zerangue. This report listed the date of this crewmember's death as, 30/31 March 1944, over (30) days after the crew was shot down. No other facts were stated in this German Report. Based on this information, it can be concluded that this man had successfully evaded capture until the above date, however, his exact cause of death is not known. The German report merely states cause of death as: "shot down, type of aircraft not established". It continued to say that he was found at a location named Wahrda, County of Hersfeld.
Lt. Johns was repatriated at the end of WW2 and had a long successful USAAF career retiring as Lt. Colonel.
The #42-7511 crew
1st/Lt. Mervyn T. Johns Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Milton A. Henderson Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt.Frank A. Silvasy Navigator
2nd/Lt. Eugene R. Sriver Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Jack W. Indahl Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Edward J. Gressler Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. Charles L. Kenyon Gunner
S/Sgt. Felix A. Zerangue Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. William Przeniczny Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Ismael V. Sanchez Gunner
Hometown: Schoolfield, Virginia
Squadron: 576th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service
Awards:
Target: Gotha
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#: 02947
Date Lost: 24-Feb-44
Serial Number: #42-7511
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:"L"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 32nd Mission
Location near the town of Oberurfhausen-Hunberg
Cause: massive enemy fighter attack Crew of 10 3KIA 7POW
PRESIDENTIAL CITATION
The 392d Bombardment Group (H) is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy on 24 February 1944.
This mission was to go down in the annals of bombardment aerial warfare history as one of the most vital strikes ever made in World War II against Germany. The 392nd was to play the most important role in leading (6) of the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 Groups to the correct target when the leading Combat Wing of (3) Liberator Groups made a critical navigational error and turned to an incorrect attack heading thus, turning a near-disastrous mission for the Division into one of the most successful ever executed. The 392nd losses would be extremely heavy this day from some of the most fierce and relentless enemy fighter attacks ever encountered for such a long period of time over 21/2 hours into and from the target area. The following summaries taken from the Group's tactical mission records relates in small measure the history of that raid the ‘Battle of Gotha'. The destruction of this high priority target was a serious blow to the GAF and was a contributing factor to its impotency in the invasion of Continental Europe.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: This plane and aircrew came under massive enemy fighter attacks immediately after the bombing run on the Gotha target. There were no returning aircrew eye-witness accounts specifically dealing with the downing of this aircrew. What is known is that (7) of the ten crewmembers were taken as Prisoners, and (3). A local German report, #KU 992 describing the taking of the seven men as POWs was dated the same day, 24 February. This report also cites the recovery of the (3) dead crewmen, two of which were positively identified by their tags, Lt. Doyle and Sgt. Payton and the third body listed as "unknown" at the time, which later proved to be that of Lt. Barnett. The bodies were found near the town of Oberurfhausen-Hunberg, District of Hersfeld. The deceased crewmembers were found the day after, 25 February 1944. On the situation about the crew's emergency which was filed later after the war by one of the repatriated crewmembers, name unknown in the MACR records, it was stated that the plane was on fire under the flight deck and part of one of the rudders had been shot off which caused the ship to be somewhat out of control when he bailed out.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: It was reliably reported by Lt. Henderson after his release from POW status that it was known that all (10) crewmembers had successfully bailed out of their stricken ship. His report noted that they were shot up near the target by fighters with #3 engine on fire as well as the fuel tanks. He bailed out through the rear camera hatch in the waist, and there was no other crew person in the ship at this time except the Pilot. He further stated that hearsay information came to him by the Pilot later which noted that no members were found in their ship when it crashed. It was also stated that to the knowledge of Lt. Henderson, the Co-Pilot, no crewmember was injured at time of their bail out. Another revealing sidelight concerning the fate of one of the two crewmen was a German report #47/89 out of an Air Ministry in Munster and dated 8 August 1944 which reflected the death and burial of one of the Waist Gunners, Sgt. Zerangue. This report listed the date of this crewmember's death as, 30/31 March 1944, over (30) days after the crew was shot down. No other facts were stated in this German Report. Based on this information, it can be concluded that this man had successfully evaded capture until the above date, however, his exact cause of death is not known. The German report merely states cause of death as: "shot down, type of aircraft not established". It continued to say that he was found at a location named Wahrda, County of Hersfeld.
Lt. Johns was repatriated at the end of WW2 and had a long successful USAAF career retiring as Lt. Colonel.
The #42-7511 crew
1st/Lt. Mervyn T. Johns Pilot POW
2nd/Lt. Milton A. Henderson Co Pilot POW
2nd/Lt.Frank A. Silvasy Navigator
2nd/Lt. Eugene R. Sriver Bombardier POW
T/Sgt. Jack W. Indahl Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Edward J. Gressler Radio Op. POW
S/Sgt. Charles L. Kenyon Gunner
S/Sgt. Felix A. Zerangue Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. William Przeniczny Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Ismael V. Sanchez Gunner
Gravesite Details
LT COL US AIR FORCE; WORLD WAR II
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