James A. Kelley
home: Richmond, VA
Staff Sgt
Top Turret Gunner / Engineer
8th AF 95th BG 336th BS
B-17 G "Full House" # 231410
target Zeitz, Germany
16. August 1944, 1136 hrs
MACR 8178
KU 2768 (vorher 2748)
Place of Crash: east border Molau, 5 km eastward of Camburg, 11 km s-s-w of Naumburg - on the railroad Camburg-Schkoelen
ID tags inside KU; KU also contains 8 V-mail letters adressed to Massinello; KU also contains data about a downed Liberator, shot down near Dessau; also data about aB-17 F # 229962, sign J in a white field.
Pilot: D.G. "Swede" Severson
MACR 8178
P Severson Donald G. 2Lt O-819330 POW
CP Halstead Harold H. 2Lt O-768083 POW
Nav Gregory James B. 2Lt O-719932 POW
Bomb Hurst Irving E., Jr. 2Lt O-772056 POW
TTG Kelley James A, Jr. Sgt 33624698 POW
ROp Miguet Robert F. Sgt 20632_59 POW
BT Massinello Micheal Sgt 32463664 POW
RW Livotio Leonard C. Sgt 32781523 POW
TG Tursky Edward H. Sgt 13084394 POW
shot down on mission to Zeitz, Germany, on August 16, 1944 by anti aircraft fire. Crew bailed out between 15,000 and 20,000 feet. Plane crashed into house of family named "Limp" in Molau. Seven members of crew were reunited at city hall in Camburg the late afternoon on August 16, 1944.
Two crew members shot by civilians, one with a shot gun and one with a pistol. Both are still living. The Co-Pilot, Harold Halstead, still has pistol bullit in hip. The radio man, Robert Miguet, was in hospital most of the time while a POW.
We arrived in Frankfurt (Oberursel) three or four days after capture. We were placed in solitary confinement for three or four days, then interrogated and sent to Dulag Luft at Wetzlar. After two or three days we were put on a civilian train coach, about forty of us and sent to St. Wendel. We marched from the train station to the so called camp. I do not think it was far from the station but I do remember climbing a hill to get there. This was in the later part of August.
Some POW's were already there but it was a very new camp. The building there as I remember it was a long one story building. It reminded me of a large garage or storage building. It was enclosed by a barbed fence about eight or ten feet tall. There was only about twelfe or fifteen feet from the building to the fence. The bed were three hight with very little space between them. We received almost no food while I was there. I would guess there were between 750 and a 1,000 POW's held there. This was the poorest run camp that I was in.
After one or two weeks the camp was abandoned and we were loaded into 40 or 8 box cars. There were between 50 and 60 POW's loaded into each boxcar. We were transported clear across Germany to Stalag Luft IV. We arrived there sometime late in September. We stayed until February 6, 1945. The Russians were getting close to the camp and I was with the group that marched out and remained on the road until we were liberated on May 2, 1945. We marched between 500 and 750 miles.
95th Bomb Group, page 117
195th Combat Mission was to Zeitz, Germany, on August 16, 1944
33 aircraft took off and 29 completed the mission. 14 aircraft were battle damaged, and 4 aircraft failed to return.
The following crews were on this mission; D.G. Severson - 231514
This is the 141st aircraft lost in combat for the 95th BG. At 1134, over the target, and with no. 2 engine feathered, and no. 3 engine smoking, aircraft pulled out of the formation under control and went into a dive to extinguish the fire. Unable to regain position in the formation, aircraft attempted to return to base and was in radio contact with the group until 1230.
Certificate
I hereby certify that no eyewitness is available for this report. I further certifiy that the following is a correct statement of facts as obtained from the S-2 files for this mission:
B-17 G 42-31514 piloted by 2nd Lt. Donald G. Severson, was ssen to be hit by flak over the target, Zeitz, Germany at 1134 hours. The #2 and #4 engines were feathered and #3 was smoking. Justa fter the target this aircraft pulled out of formation to the right and dived as though trying to put out the fire. After this action there was loss of altitude and air speed. The pilot attempted to regain the formation but slipped behind. The aircraft was last seen in the target area at 1136 hours at 18000 feet on a heading of 260° under control with #3 engine still smoking. The last contact with this aircraft was made by radio an hour after the target and at that time it was stated that they were alright.
David E. Olsson
Capt, Air Corps
Asst., Opn., Officer
16. August 1944
KU
CO of air base A (0) 33/III Weimar Nohra, August 20, 1944
Strength of receiving command:
1 officer (as command leader)
1 captain engineer
1 tester
1 SSgt specialist for arms
1 Cpl. radio expert
5 men special personel
1 Sgt. as driver
Remarks:
the airplane, downed by flak, burst into flames before crashing and set a barn on fire, at the same time bursting into numerous parts which lay around on an area of 500 meters. Then it struck against a farm house set it on fire and crashed completely. Any captured material could not be found because all parts were burned or destroyed.
8 crew members of the crew were captured by civilians, county patroll, police and army. 6 parachute were delivered. It is be supected that the other 2 crew members have escaped. Inquiries have been started.
Weidermann
Captain and leader of the receiving command
Severson caught August 16, 1944, at 12.00 near Camburg
Halstead caught August 16, 1944, at 12.00 near Camburg
Gregory caught August 16, 1944, at 12.00 near Camburg
Hurst caught August 16, 1944, at 12.00 near Camburg
Kelley captured (nothing else mentioned)
Miquet
Massinello captured (nothing else mentioned)
Livoti caught August 16, 1944, at 12.00 near Camburg
Tursky caught August 16, 1944, at 12.00 near Loebschuetz, Camburg County.