1Lt Donald E. Winter, pilot
2Lt Joseph W. Wiley, co-pilot
2Lt George H. Anderson, Navigator
2Lt Edmund J. Torpey, Bombardier
S/Sgt Richard C. Kausch, Radio operator
Sgt John R. Fitzgearl, Top Turret Gunner
S/Sgt George A. Gardner, Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt Alfred R. Falls, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt James C. Underwood, Left Waist Gunner
S/Sgt Floyd E. Hart, Tail Gunner
Lt
Winter's crew: Back row (L to R): George A.
Gardner (Ball Turret Gunner), James C. Underwood
(Waist Gunner), Hubert L. Crook (Waist Gunner -
Did not fly with this crew on the 30 January
mission. He flew with another crew but was also
shot down and killed), Richard C. Kausch (Radio
Operator), Paul Melcom (Flight Engineer/ Top
Turret - Paul did not fly on this mission due to
illness. He went on to complete his tour with
another crew and returned to the US), Floyd E.
Hart (asst Engineer).
Kneeling (L to R); Donald E. WInter (Pilot),
Kenny Thomas (Co-pilot), George Anderson
(Navigator), Edmund Torpey (Bombardier). Picture
Courtesy of Gene.
On the way back to England,
the bombers were attacked by German fighters who
were sent up to intercept them. One source
states that Unteroffizier Franz Schilling, of
7./JG26, attacked a straggling bomber which he
shot down. It was his first shoot down. The
plane crashed north of Bergen aan Zee.
This was Lt. Winter's B17.
It crashed near the town of Schoorl, on the
Dutch coast, near the Pirolavlakte. The whole
crew was killed in the crash.
1Lt Donald Winter is buried
at Antelope Cemetery, Richland County, North
Dakota, U.S.A.
