Smith - #6409
Standing L-R: Carlson, Arthur H. (B); Smith, Gerald R. (P); Vrooman, Francisco L. Jr. (CP); Klarsfeld, Milton A. (N)
Kneeling L-R: Howard, Edwin L. (E/WG); Brewer, David D. (NG); Abramson, Abraham P. (RO/WG); Stewart, Clifton J. (TG); Modrovsky, John R. (BG); Goldman, Morris R. (TT)
Standing L-R: Abramson, Abraham P. (RO/WG); Stewart, Clifton J. (TG); Brewer, David D. (NG); Goldman, Morris R. (TT); Howard, Edwin L. (E/WG); Modrovsky, John R. (BG)
Kneeling L-R: Smith, Gerald R. (P); Klarsfeld, Milton A. (N); Carlson, Arthur H. (B); Vrooman, Francisco L. Jr. (CP)
| AAF# | Type | Group | Sq | Sq# | Nickname |
| 42-52025 | B-24J | 461 | 765 | 26 | Arsenic and Old Lace |
PILOT: 2nd Lt. Gerald Robert Smith, Grand Rapids, MI, Married
MISSIONS: 11
LAST SIGHTED: 1145, Muglitz
DOWN: 1200 Co-pilot says 9 minutes from target
| WHERE: | Bredck? 12 KM south of Presenitz? Olmutz NE tip of CZ. |
This crew flew 11 missions between October 17 and December 17, 1944. Vienna, Brux, etc. #26 was hit in the number three engine by fighters. Number three was on fire, but the bomber was still under control. Cpl. David D. Brewer, nose gunner, made comment on enemy rockets. Fighters criss-crossed and set bomb bays on fire. 2nd Lt. Arthur H. Carlson, bombardier motioned for Smith to release bombs. At this time Carlson was right below top turret. Sgt. Morris R. Goldman, top turret gunner, called out, "Enemy fighters, six o'clock level!" The fighters criss-crossed from both sides of plane. Left waist gunner, Edwin L. Howard, fired at the fighters, and was killed by 20mm shell in the stomach. Sgt. Abraham P. Abramson, right waist gunner also returned fire, but was killed by a 20mm shell through the chest. The bomber's oxygen system was punctured. Bombardier Carlson: 6'4", 180 pounds, blue eyed, light brown hair, 11 1/2D shoe. Upper gunner, Goldman's seat release jammed. Carlson worked without oxygen to free Goldman from turret. Carlson freed Goldman from top turret, but both collapsed from a lack of oxygen at flight deck entrance. Navigator, Milton A. Klarsfeld, helped nose gunner, David D. Brewer, from his turret. The nose wheel doors would not open, and the exit to bomb bays was blocked by the unconscious bodies of Carlson and Goldman. #26 fell off and to the right and went under Chalmers' aircraft. A wing broke off - fuel tanks exploded. Klarsfeld, the navigator, and Brewer, the nose gunner, had moved back from the nose to the bomb bay entrance to exit the disabled aircraft. Klarsfeld had a face oxygen mask on! As their exit was blocked, they hesitated! At this point in time Smith, Francisco, Stewart and Modrovsky had bailed out. The remaining six crew members were still in the aircraft when it exploded! Klarsfeld had passed out! The next thing he remembers is floating down to earth high above the clouds - his chute ripcord still in place. The concussion from the explosion blew him clear and ripped open his seat pack parachute! His only injury was that his face was burned! 2nd Lt. Warren S. Steinhauser, 765th saw 10 men bail out of #26 - he saw no chutes open. Capt. Robert T. Chalmers, polled his crew and determined at least 10 men were seen going out of #26. Germans found 5 bodies in wreckage. Carlson, Goldman, Brewer, Abramson and Howard were killed in the attack and explosion. The remaining five, Smith, Francisco, Stewart, Modrovsky and Klarsfeld met up in Stalag Luft One!
Courtesy of Michael Wasserman
Morris Goldman, Top Turret Gunner