Memorial

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All crew members, but Sgt Valdes who was killed, left the plain by parachute and were taken POW and returned to duty.

Statement: I, S/Sgt Albert C. Duecaster, 35382109, 726th Bomber Squadron, saw plane #42-52153, piloted by 2nd Lt Harold C. Schauer, leave the formation the day his ship was missing in action. On 27 July 1944, we were on a bombing mission to bomb the Manfred-Weiss Armament Works at Budapest.
On the way to the target at about 1005, just before reaching the Initial Point, I saw Lt Schauers plane salvo two of its bombs. A little while later the plane dropped out of formation as if it had been hit with flak, but it didn't seem damaged. The plane lost altitude and straightend out as if it were under control again and made a circle and headed back towards the home base, alone. I saw four unindentified fighter planes head towards the plane and also a number of P-51's. The last I saw of the plane it was heading for the home base, with all four engines operative. I did not see anyone leave the plane by parachute.
However: Sgt Valdes Jr. and another crewmember were trapped in the Bomb-bay after the rest of the crew had bailed out. Sergeant Valdes was struggling with his parachute. The plane was in a spin. The other crewmember jumped on the Bomb-bay doors which were jammed shut. He escaped when the Bomb-bay doors broke and he fell free. He expected Sergeant Valdes to follow, but he didn't see a chute come out of the plane. Several seconds later the plane crashed into the ground. Sgt Valdes was found on the site of the crash. The other 9 crew members survived.

On the bottom picture, Sgt Valdes is standing on the right.