B-17F-DL 'Marie Helena', 42-3386

Lost on October 8, 1943

[photo from 100th BG.]

Source : 100th Bomb Group Foundation

Capt. Ev Blakely - Gp. Lead -- Bremen

Oct 8, 1943 (Bremen)

Group alerted early evening of the 7th - scrubbed soon afterwards - enemy bombed between Bungay and Nowich around 2200 hours. Lots of Ack Ack visible. There were a dozen or so planes reported shot down in the vicinity of our base, some in flames. Early radio reports stated 175 planes over England during the night.
At 0500 hours the group alerted for Bremen with take-off time set for 1145 hours. Two other big missions on with B-24's also with Bremen as their target.
Radio reported that the 100th bombed the primary at 1520 hours.
Group returned at 1700 hours - missing seven (7) planes and crews.
Major Cleven with DeMarco missing; Nash, Meadow, McDonald, Gormley, Murphy in the famed Piccadily Lily; and Becktoft
were also missing. Colonel Kidd and Blakely crashed landed near Norwich after a historic air battle all the way home from Bremen. Two crewmen were severely wounded - they claimed 12 fighters and were allowed nine.

October 8, 1943 1130 taxi time of the first aircraft

TAKE OFF TIMES

Time

Serial

Code

Name

Pilot

1153:30
23386
EP-H

MARIE HELENA
Lt Raymond J. Gormley

8 OCT 43 BREMEN MISSION CHRONOLOGY

Time

Serial

Code

Name

Fate

1130 100Th leaves the english coast

1453

100th crossed european coast 10 miles nnw of groningen;
aggressive fighter attacks begin

1508

23386

EP-H

MARIE HELENA

Mid-air collision with FW-190 of 2/jg11 thought to have been flown by Oblt. Erich Hondt.
The crew (10) KIA

serial number

plane type / name

squadron

code

reason

mission lost on

pilot / crew

42-3386

Boeing B-17F-DL "Marie Helena"

100 BG
351 BS

EP-H

collision with FW190
Lt. Hondt
2./JG11

also claimed by
Fw. Laufer
2./JG11

Bremen

15h08
Crash Location Bellingwolde
15 kms sud de Dollart
415 G5

Raymond J. Gormely P
Edward Fox CP,

10KIA,
MACR 949

October 8, 1943 1130 taxi time of the first aircraft
TAKE OFF TIMES
Time	Serial	Code	Name	Pilot
1153:30	23386	EP-H	MARIE HELENA	Lt Raymond J. Gormley

8 OCT 43 BREMEN MISSION CHRONOLOGY
Time	Serial	Code	Name	Fate
1130				100Th leaves the english coast
1453				100th crossed european coast 10 miles nnw of groningen; aggressive fighter attacks begin
1508	23386	EP-H	MARIE HELENA	Mid-air collision with FW-190 of 2/jg11 thought to have been flown by Oblt. Erich Hondt. The crew (10) KIA

serial number	plane type / name	squadron	code	reason	mission lost on	pilot / crew
42-3386	Boeing B-17F-DL "Marie Helena"	100 BG 351 BS	EP-H	collision with FW190 Lt. Hondt 2./JG11 also claimed by Fw. Laufer 2./JG11	Bremen 15h08 Crash Location Bellingwolde 15 kms sud de Dollart 415 G5	Raymond J. Gormely P Edward Fox CP, 10KIA, MACR 949