The Vladimir A. Mateyka crew: 710th Squadron
Flights with Vladimir A. Mateyka listed as Pilot
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
447th Mission (Date) | Target | Plane Number | Notes |
#150 (27-Sep-44) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | 42-37871 | |
#151 (28-Sep-44) | Merseburg, Germany | 42-37871 | |
#155 (06-Oct-44) | Berlin, Germany | 43-37821 |
Missing in Action Berlin 6 October 1944 with the Mateyka crew aboard 43-37821. Enemy aircraft above Berlin, headed for England, but had to ditch. Ditched in the North Sea, according to MACR, about 50 miles off the Firian Island of Norderney, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report – MACR 9779. RED HOT MAMA.
Vladimir A. Mateyka | Pilot | POW |
Keith W. Mc Call | Co-Pilot | POW |
Louis Sobolof | Navigator | POW |
Virgil W. Ethridge | Bombardier | POW |
Anthony V. Carnesi | Top Turret gunner | POW |
Laverne T. Pratt | Radio Operator | POW |
Eugene F. Schmitt | Ball Turret gunner | POW |
John F. Simpson | Waist gunner | POW |
Thomas R. Davis | Tail gunner | POW |
2Lt. Louis Sobolof; Navigator on “Red Hot Mama” B-17 43-37821 when it ditched in the North Sea. Captured and sent to Stalag deep into Germany.
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Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database