Standing L-R: Arditto, ? (B)*; Helton, Eldred H. (CP); Lang, Charles V. Jr. (P); Mohlman, Arthur W. (N)

Kneeling Middle L-R: Engelke, Wilfred A. (RO/LWG); Bosso, Guy V. (E/RWG); Reed, Lon N. Jr. (TT)

Seated Front L-R: Rutter, James M. (BG); Meeks, Arthur** (TG); Johansson, Hjalmar O. (NG)

*Arditto did not deploy to Italy with crew.

Helton was flying with Galvan's crew on 12/17/44.

**Tail gunner did not deploy due to illness (replaced by Norton, Harold R.).

Standing L-R: Mohlman, Arthur W. (N); Lang, Charles V. Jr. (P); Helton, Eldred H. (CP); Arditto, ? (B)

Kneeling L-R: Reed, Lon N. Jr. (TT); Bosso, Guy V. (E/RWG); Engelke, Wilfred A. (RO/LWG)

Sitting L-R: Johansson, Hjalmar O. (NG); Meeks, Arthur (TG); Rutter, James M. (BG)

This crew was shot down on their first mission - 17 December 1944.

Guy V. Bosso

Interview with Guy V. Bosso from April 1945

PILOT:    1st Lt. Charles V. Lang, Carrollton, AL, Married

MISSIONS:    Unknown

LAST SIGHTED:    1200, Muglitz 49-47'N 16-56'E

DOWN:    1230

WHERE:    Rytaik, Rybnik, Skrzischow.  Guy Bosso says he bailed out over Adony, Hungary.

Aircraft left formation 150 miles NW of Budapest.  Navigator, Arthur W. Mohlman, left formation 50 north of Lake Battaton.  S/Sgt Robert F. Miller, tail gunner lead ship in formation, "#66 was 600-700 yards behind the formation at the time of the first attack."  T/Sgt. H. N. Ryan, in bomber #60, "#66 went under our aircraft.  All engines were going and no fighters were after him - then an FW-190 went down after #66."  T/Sgt. Russell H. Ritchel, right waist, #63 in number 2 position, C Flight, first section. (767), "#66 pulled up along side of us from the rear with a fighter on his tail.  Fire and smoke were coming from #3 engine."  Cpl. Guy V. Bosso, right waist gunner, says Lang ordered him to check on the fuel leak in bomb bays.  #66 peeled off to right and fell away.  The enemy fighter on his tail burst into flames.  #66 fell about 500 yards, blew up and fell in two pieces.  Entire crew got out and 7 were captured about 3:45 PM.  German reports note, Cpl. James M. Rutter, "Refuses to talk!"  Crewmen will not even reveal type of aircraft they were flying.  Lang and 3 others were picked up by Russians and returned to Fifteenth AF.

Then (12/30/44)

L-R: Elden A. (R/O), Hank Slonski(?) TG of the 743rd Squadron, 455th Bomb Group, Guy Bosso 461st.

Now

Hjalmar Johannson (left) and Guy Bosso (right) in 2000.

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