Memorial

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This flight was 2nd Lt Charles L. Williams' first mission on this aircraft. He was severely wounded after the crash and was transferred to the POW (Prisoners of War) Hospital Zipfendorf .

Statement from Sgt Wesley C. Borgeson, Tail Gunner, on 2nd Lt Arthur D. Champ's crew:
"I was on a mission to Zietz, Germany, on 30 November 1944, flying as a member of the 545th Heavy Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. On the second bomb run over the target, we were hit by anti-aircraft fire before we dropped our bombs. The plane immediately started to burn and blew up in about 5 or 10 seconds. As soon as it caught on fire, I went back to my escape door and prepared to bail out. The interphone was out, and I never heard the pilot give the bailout signal, but I could see it was a bad fire and that the plane was done for. Before I had a chance to jump, the plane blew up, and I came down in the tail section. I was knocked unconscious by the explosion and came to 3 days later in a German hospital. I know that I came down in the tail because my radioman saw my parachute, and it had never been opened. Also, I talked to a French prisoner of war that, with a German soldier, found me in the tail section. The radioman parachuted out, and since I have been back in the United States I have learned that the co-pilot, 2nd Lt. Charles Williams of Detroit, and bombardier, 2nd Lt. Jack R. Chidley of Casper, have been reported prisoners of war. I never saw them or heard of them while I was in Germany. I was with Gerald F. Foretich for about 2 months in Germany. He was shipped to a different camp, so we became separated. The navigator, Lt. Gurlock or Garlock, was found some distance from the plane with a wound on his chest. He had apparently jumped out and was hit with some flak shrapnel and was either killed or so severely injured he couldn't open his parachute. The Frenchman also told us this. He was the only crew member wearing a backpack that day, and the man mentioned had a backpack on. The rest of the crew I know nothing about, except that they were reported killed in action.

"The other members of the crew are as follows: 2nd Lt. Arthur D. Champ, pilot, Sgt Rodney Penrose, engineer, Sgt Gerald F. Foretich, radioman, Sgt. John Sherman, ball turret gunner, Sgt. Robert L. Love, waist gunner. The navigator wasn't our regular one, so I am not sure of the spelling of his name.

"I believe Lt Champ could have gotten out had he not stayed with the plane until the other crew members could get out. I believe he should be awarded the Silver Star or the Distinguished Flying Cross for this act of heroism.

"This is all I know about the circumstances surrounding our being shot down."

The initial burial of 2nd Lt Williams took place at Wintersdorf Cemetery, Germany.