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Personal info

Full name
MICHELS, Carroll Arthur "Bud"
Date of birth
4 April 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
Indiana
Hometown
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
O1844474
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
715th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
3 March 1945
Place of death
Gross and Klein Heide, 18 miles from Salzwedel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
M 19 3

Immediate family

Members
Arthur J. Michels (father)
Ellen M. (Jakeway) Michels (mother)
Mary C. Michels (sister)
Helen J. Michels (sister)
Agnes L. Michels (sister)
Richard Michels (brother)
Dorothy R. Michels (sister)
Gertrude C. Michels (sister)
Burnas J. (Haslanger) Michels (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-51247
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Feuden Rebel
Destination: Magdenburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing Rothensee oil refinery
MACR: 12885

More information

The airplane collided with plane 42-50463.

From The Messerschmitt 262 Combat Diary by John Foreman & S. E. Harvey: "B-24s were also engaged by jets near Rathenow, two bombers from the 448th BG colliding whilst taking evasive action (one hit by 30mm cannon fire)... "After judging the tactical situation, I attacked with my wingman, Lt Muller, and we made a head-on pass. After a short burst at around 800 meters with my four MK.108 cannons using mainly incendiary shells, I had great difficulty getting through the bomber formation without hitting any of them. I did see a flash on the wing of my B-24, near the fuselage. Muller was certain that he had missed the target..."

Lt Anderson:
"Plane #247 Guynes & #463 Smarinsky at I.P., crashed into each other. Two chutes seen. Time 1021."
Lt Corbett:
"Smarinsky & Guynes collided. Believe ME 262 caused collision. Two minutes after I.P. Four chutes seen. Time 1024."
Lt Clark:
"Two B-24s collided at 1020, 23,100 feet, 3 shutes seen."
Lt Davis:
"Two B-24s collided at 1019. Chutes seen: 4 positive, possibly two more."
Lt Crandall:
"Ships collided, caused by slipstream or fighters, two planes were seen to hit the ground. Six chutes were seen, maybe more."
Note: The above remarks were taken from interrogation forms.

Source of information: André Koch, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1940 / 1930 census /Headstone and Interment Record / Family Trees

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, www.ancestry.com - University of Notre Dame Yearbook 1940