B-24 Shot down 31 Mar 43 409th BG 93 BG

Was on last mission #25 . All crew reported MIA that day later confirmed KIA. Was part of raid with 23 other B-24s and 78 B-17s,over Roterdam .Was pioleted by Lt Bill Williams and Co-pilot Lt Kent. I am a nephew of the enginner Alfred I. Windle Tsgt. Was this AC called Geronimo or Santa's Cheriot? How many Missions for G and S? Was Geronimo lost in North Africa? Any interrigation reports for this mission? Is there a crew list for this mission? Is there a list of names of the other 23 B-24s on the mission? I understand this was the 13th AC to be lost by the 93rd BG since operations began in Aug 42. Any other info would be appreciated . [signature]

Hello...I think your anseres are on the 93rd BG Association website.... [url "http://www.aircareintl.org/history/index.htm"]http://www.aircareintl.org/history/index.htm[/url] There is a list of Aircraft and names.....you should contact the 93rd BG Assoctiatoin for help in answering your questions. For access to the full page....please go to the top of this page and click on JUST the 93rd BG at the right of the blue line..this brings up the 93rd BG Association page. JIm :) [signature]

If you click on the 93rd BG ..at the end of the line in blue, at the top right of this page, you will get a list of mesages and you should click on the top line with the Thumbtack and the NOTE in red....This will bring up the 93rd BG Assocaiation page. Jim :-) [signature]

I believe I found a "pearl" of info. At tonywood.cjb.net. 31 03 43 Obit Otto Stemmberger: 4 4./JG26 b-24 100Km N.W. Ostende 7800m. I believe this is the German Pilot who shot the AC my uncle was on that day. Can anyone verify or confirm that this would have been the route from Hardwick to Rotterdam and return? [signature]

B-24D-CO 41-24025 "satan's Chariot" 93BG 409BS

1lt Bill F williams pilot
1lt earl C Kent copilot
1lt Richard H Schoenberger Navigator
1lt Carlus Turner bombadier
t/sgt Alfred I Windle engineer
t/sgt Louis B Kirkpartick radiooperator
s/sgt Lester C Rambo Ball turret gunner
s/sgt Wilber H Elliott left waistgunner
s/sgt James N Thomas rightwaistgunner
s/sgt Vincent O McMahon Jr Tailgunner

plane was last seen heading for england with 1 engine on fire
came down between holland and england
9 crewmembers are still missing and are on ther WOM in cambridge
only the body of sgt Windle was found on the 23 july 1943

s/sgt

Thanks so much for the info. Where did you get the info? Did not know all the other crew were never found. Doyou think this jives with the location of being shot down that I mentioned above?

Merry xmas

Ostende is in belgium a few km's from the dutch border on the coast
so i think the plane of you uncle was shot by otto Stemmberger

"On 31 March,102 B-17s and B24s took
off to bomb the wharfs and docks area
at Rotterdam,but four of the six bomb grps.were recalled because of strong
winds and thick clouds.Upon returning
to England "Satans Chariot"was shot
down by Oblt Otto Stammberger for his fourth victory.Williams crashed into
the sea shortly after 1245 hours,60
miles off Ostend.There were no survivors".Oblt Stammberger suffered a
flying career ending accident in Jan.1944.

Yunch

Hello - I just joined this site. My father was Major Kenneth W. Root, Jr. and was best friends with Co-pilot Earl kent, mentioned in the list of Satans Chariot. After learning of her husbands death, Helen kent joined the Wacs, and went overseas. Then was unfortunately killed a month after going over. She was friends with my Mom, Helen S. Root. She is still alive and doing well in Greene, New York. I will ask her what she knows about the crew.

Jim Root

Dear Jim:
It is a complete surprise to hear from you. Sorry I took so long to respond as I only have access to this PC every few dats or so. Any way give my best to your mother. So glad she is still with us.

I didn't realize that all the crew was not recovered except for my uncle. I thought that they were all buried in England. Do you or your mother know this to be true? The more I recearch the more I realize how close they came to making it back to Hardwick for the completion of the 25th mission and there tour and they would all be together today. I am getting ready to compile all this info in a book for my two cousins and four kids. I have not been able to find and hear from any relatives or friendsof the crew. You are the closest so far. So I am really astonished to here from you. I also have a picture of the crew while on pass in Oran Egypt. I'll take a look at it again and see if I can tell which one is Lt Kent. Uncle Allfred (Bud) spoke very highly of his pilot and crew in his letters home.

Do you know how Mrs Earl Kent was lost?

Regards Dave

I think Lt Kent was from KC Uncle Windle was from Joplin, MO. Is that where you live. Can I have a email address from you?

PS: I have original piece of newspaper article from KC Star dtd 26 March 1943 that was sent to my Grandma Windle from Mrs Charles K. Kent, 1030 Benton Blvd, KC Mo in 1943., describing the return of the crew/crews from North Africa to England.

In appreciation and memory of this crew that lost their lives for this great country 62 years ago today on March 31, 1943.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR COURAGE.

Another year has passed. Now 63 years ago yesterday.
 
RIP

Does anyone know of any AC making it back to base with an engine on fire,or was there no chance.  I wonder if it exploded or wing burned through. I wonder if this crew had a chance of returning home? I have a feeling beings it was there 25th mission they wanted to ride her as long as possible.
 
 

Another year has passed. Now 64 years since his death and coming up on my 64th year of living. RIP uncle Bud>

Dave
Going over notes that took after a visit with 93rd Pilot Dick Wilkinson. He was flying the March 31, 1943 with the 409th sq. He remembered seeing Williams crew getting shot down, I believe after surviving the Ploesti mission in Aug.1,1943 he was sent stateside. He visited some of the Williams crew members family. As an eye witness to their crash and friend he wanted to let the families know that they were truely gone.
 
 I am hoping to see him again at the 93rd reunion this year in Sept. at the Twin Cities.
 
Joe Avendano Duran

Thanks Joe, I recently recived a report from Maxwell AFB giving me the serial#s and some Pilots names of 13 AC from the 93d. Did not see his name but there were 23 other B-24 on the mission so he was I think one of them?  78 B-17 was on the mission, and his AC was the only one lost.

If he can remember any details please give him my email dlyblood@hotmail.com if you have a chance to talk to him. Hope he is doing well and thank him for his service for me.
One of the questions was their an explosion or did he see it hit the water?

And thank you again.

Dear Mr. Joe,
I read your posting this day, and want to go to the reunion that you mentioned in the twin cities.  Can you post the dates and particulars of the reunion. I would very much like to attend and bring many photo albums, diaries and countless memoribila items that I have collected over the years on the 93rd.  I was in the 93rd from it's conception, flying the first mission of Oct. 9 1942, through the August 1 1943 mission to Ploesti.  It will be 65 years since we formed up and flew to Alconbury.
I live in California in a little town called Fillmore.  I recently had the opportunity to fly the B-24 that the  Collings foundation brought through our area.  There were several enthusiastic passengers on board the B-24 that day.  One of them looked like a fellow I knew who flew with the 330th, in a B-24 called Dog Patch Raiders.  I think his name was Joe also, but my memory is so bad that I can't recall.  It's probably of no interest to you anyway.  Looking forward to seeing your reply on this site.
Pete

I would like also to add it is nice to have this info so close to Memorial Day. It is fitting. Also my late uncle's DOB is May 28, 1920. would have been 87 in three days. KIA age 22 +. Myself and my cousins will always remember him forever young.

Dave
I forwarded your request to Dick Wilkison on your search for information on your uncle Bud. As one of the 93rd original pre-war pilots Dick has a treasure chest of info on the group and the 409 sq. His first ship they named Wham Bam and had the nose art painted with Bugs Bunny would go on to serve as a (Assembly Ship)to help groups form up before missions. One of the gunners to serve with Dick was the first Japanese American hero of the war, Ben Kuroki. His war time combat experience is going to be featured on PBS. Dick Wilkinson was recently at a gathering honoring Ben with the Distinguished Service Medal in Lincoln Nebraska. These two War Heros defied the odds by surviving some of the most decorated and hazardous mission of the War. I would not miss this special some time in Sept. of this year.
 
Both Dick and Ben have been making the yearly reunions with the 93BG.This years reunion info can be pulled up on the 93rd web page at,
 www.93rdbombardmentgroup.com/   the outing is at the TWIN CITIES, MN
from Sept. 27-30. All are welcome
 We will never forget the sacrifice your uncle Bud made.
 
Joe Avendano Duran
 
 
 
 

Dear Joe:
A quick thanks. I am on my way to my military league golf course. Just checked my mail. Ill pass this info on to my cousins. After all these years mabe we can get the answer to the mystery. Have a great holiday and indeed we will never forget their sacrifice .

And thanks to all Vets past and present. God bless the USA.