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1st Lt Howard R. Schulte graduated from Parker High School and attended Northwestern University and was a clerk.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Chicago, Illinois on 4 August 1942.

Statement of a surviving crew member:
". . . From the moment of the first fighter attack, the pilot, Lt Howard R. Schulte, was unconscious, presumably from lack of oxygen. After continuing flying, the co-pilot, who was in command of the ship, decided that further attempts to put out the fire and return of our base would be of no avail and the order to bail out was given. The pilot had returned to consciousness, stating he was all right and unwounded to the co-pilot's inquiry. He immediately confirmed the co-pilots decision to abandon ship. I bailed out later. The Bombardier, Lt. Kenneth R. Summers later told me that he saw the pilot, Lt Schulte, and believed him to be the last person aboard the aircraft. When last seen he was flying the aircraft at 7500 feet altitude going down fast. One wing was a mass of flames due to flak damage. He saw no more chutes come from the plane. Lt Summers believes that Lt Schulte did not bail out or if he did his chute did not open. He may have decided to crash land the aircraft."

Six crew members were taken prisoner, three were killed.