401st Bomb Group (H) Association
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Bruce Nyberg
8/2/2001 10:34:09 PM
On Wednesday, June 14 1944, Mission 412, my dad's B-17g -15-DL-42-37843 took off to bomb Le Bourget. His aircraft was shot down and thanks to the pilot, 2nd Lt. Russell H. Schoeder, who gave his life for his crew, my dad lived.
I am looking for anyone who might know any information about this mission, my dad and the crew. Also did Lt.Schoeder recieve the reconition he gave his life for.

The crew were.

2nd Lt. R.H. Schoeder, Pilot
2nd Lt. W.E. Mountain, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. E.R. Rice, Navigator
Sgt. E.V Crawley, Togglier
SSgt. C.M. Davis, Radio Op
SSgt. W.F Bryant, Engineer
Sgt. J.J. Owens, Ball Turret
SSgt. C.E. Avery, Tail Gunner
Sgtr. D.W. Grimble, Waist Gunner
Sbt. R.A. Nyberg, Waist Gunner. My father. I still miss him.
Bruce Nyberg
P.O. 101
French Gulch Ca. 96033
1-530-359-2320
brucenyberg@hotmail.com

Art Seder
8/4/2001 9:04:40 AM
Your Dad's crew was assigned to the 615th Squadron. They were shot down on their second mission flying B-17 No. 42-37843, named "Dry Run". As you noted, Lt. R. H. Schroeder, the pilot, was killed, but all other members of the crew were listed as having "Evaded" capture.
    Group records state: "'Dry Run' was shot down by two Me-109's who, in turn, were shot down by a mass of 8th Air Force fighters. Lt. Schroeder was believed to have been struck by his own aircraft just after he bailed out and was killed by the impact."
Joe Owens
8/6/2001 10:50:06 PM
I was one of the crew with your dad. He, together with myself, Mountain, Rice and Avery all came together in a French farm house shortly after we all "hit" the ground. We were together until July 6, l944 when we were assigned to separate French families by the French Underground. That was my last contact with Dick. I have not had any contact with any of the other crew members since that time.
Bruce Nyberg
8/14/2001 7:00:54 PM
Dear Mr. Seder;
Thank You for your reply. Due to my work it is sometimes hard to reply quickly. I am a teacher and this summer I was involved with our summer outdoor program. You can see what I do on the web by typing www.nawa-academy.com.
Again thank you for your reply, however I can remember my dad calling himself "one mission Nyberg" which always lead me to believe that he flew only one mission on June 14th. Was there another mission before that??
Sincerely; Bruce Nyberg
Art Seder
8/15/2001 5:55:32 PM
Your Dad would have been justified in at least calling himself "one and one-half mission Nyberg". Group records indicate that he was shot down on his second mission. The crew's first mission, which was flown on 12 June 1944, just two days earlier, was to Vitry-en-Artois. Since he evaded and ultimately returned home, he really could claim to be "two mission Nyberg".
Bruce Nyberg
8/15/2001 11:20:19 PM
Thanks again for the info. I will be joining the Group shortly and plan to attend the gathering in 2002 along with some family members. I suppose you have heard this before, but I will never be able to thank you and the group for all you have done for me. Through you I have found two of the crew that flew with Dad.
Sincerely Yours;
Bruce