US Army Air Force

"Fertile Myrtle"

"Fertile Myrtle", an USAAF’s Consolidated B-24 Liberator during a mission over Central Europe (note the huge smoke’s column is the background). "Fertile Myrtle", B-24G-16-NT Liberator, s/n 42-78471, 724th Bombardment Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, 49th Bomb Wing, 15th Air Force, base Castelluccio airfield, Foggia Airfield Complex, Southern Italy, was shot down by German fighters over Austria on Sept. 23,1944. Crew: 2nd Lt. Cornelius E. Donoghue ,pilot (POW); 2nd Lt. George L. Hogan, copilot (KIA); 2nd Lt. James W. Bitzinger, navigator (POW); 2nd Lt. Clarence O. Roettger, bombardier (KIA); T/Sgt. Carl R. Lottman, radio operator (POW);T/Sgt. Wayne Johnson, ball turret gunner (POW);S/Sgt. Claude C. Baker, tail turret gunner (POW);S/Sgt. Raymond A. Ranville, engineer/top turret gunner (MIA); S/Sgt. Alfonso B. Diaz, left waist gunner (POW); Sgt. Stanley E. Black, nose turret gunner (POW). Lts. Hogan and Roettger are believed to have been shot by the German Polizei for killing civilians while attempting to escape. Victor Sierra