Captured Allied aircraft B 24 H Stolen Moments

[Stolen_moments]

Does anyone have any photos or other information of this aircraft in German Hands?

B 24 H 8th Air Force 453rd Bomb Group 735th Bomb Squadron Aircraft
Squadron Fuselage Code: H6 Tail Code: _ 42-52627 STOLEN MOMENTS 735th
Bomb Squadron Aircraft Squadron.Shot down 7-21-44 on mission 112 Munich,
Germany – Bad Wthr; Railway Yard-Saarbruckennear Ensisheim/Klass Germany.

I was told by my cousin a waist gunner that the airplane was captured by the germans and tested.
anyone?

Thank You
Stolen moments.

[Ome_Joop]

STOLEN MOMENTS - B-24-H #42-52627 shot down 12-JUL-1944 near Ensisheim/Klass Germany. Crew - Pilot Bill B. Banias; Co-Pilot Fred B. Foltz; Nav. Richard A. Matheis; Bombardier John A. Staedler; RO Julius W. Gordon; Top Turret Charles J. Scheffer; Nose Gunner Robert D. Thompson (Tim's cousin); Right waist Bill G. Hileman; Left Waist Leonard E. Lincoln; Tail Gunner Albert G. Hitz. Photo courtesy of Tim Rathbone.

and some pics
http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/aprilskie ... hotos.html

With it's wing clipped i wonder if it would be repaired!?

[CloudCraft]

I just learned (via Internet searching on Capt. Bill Banius' name) that the B-24 my father was aboard was named Stolen Moments. All these years, and I never knew that! Jules William Gordon was the Radio Operator and I grew up hearing his stories about being part of this crew, crash landing, being captured and spending the rest of WWII as a POW.

There are several sources of information I've found the Internet; I bought some research about 8 years ago from someone who had access to Army Air Corps records. One of the documents lists the crew -- the day it was crashed -- as:

2nd Lt. Bill Banias, Pilot 2nd Lt. Fred Foltz, Copilot 2nd Lt. Richard Mathis, Navigator 2nd Lt. John Steedler, Bombardier S/Sgt. Julius W. Gordon, Radioman & Radar Counter Measures Sgt. Charles Schaeffer, Top Turret Gunner Cpl. Robert Thompson, Nose Gunner Cpl. Bill Edleman, Right Waist Gunner Sgt. Leonard Lincoln, Left Waist Gunner Cpl. Albert Hitz, Tail Gunner.

I shall post a photo of the crew posing in front of the aircraft.

Jules W. Gordon was able to reunite with the pilot of the aircraft, Bill Banius in 1999/2000. Bill Banius died about a year afterward following double hip surgery and my father died in October 2000. As far as I know, these were the last two surviving men of this crew.

Best,

Keith S Gordon

[kimo90808]

Co-pilot, Fred B Foltz, kneeling, 2nd from left, still alive, I just got off the phone with him, he's my dad, 5-22-09, he's building a chopper, 93 years old this month. Bill Banias and him avoided being captured for a couple days, while being transported to an actual POW camp, but after being processed, they escaped their guards and evaded from Germany to switzerland and met the right people, no internment camps. heres a poster I have of them put out by the Mighty eighth, Bill on the left, my dad on the right

The picture posted above? I have an original exact same photo, and more

As for 'stolen Moments', this was a plane they took over from a previous crew, they didn't have time to re-name it, but in some of the photo's in the link you can see they covered up the name 'stolen moments' and was about to rename it , and this is where things get vague with my dad, 'elivsue bunny' which he says was a mix of all the crew girlfriends names. I have no idea if the spelling is anywhere near correct, it a guess, based on what my say's, and he won't say much.



Elsewhere on the web I found the Germans repaired it, painted in their markings, the resistance watching the entire time, they loaded with bombs and on it's 1st mission a P-38 destroyed it on take-off. NICE

I'd really like to talk to you guys about your cousin, and your dads, stories, and I'll share mine. and more photo's too

[CloudCraft]

This site is fantastic! Am now in touch with the son of the co-pilot! Thank you for adding your knowledge to the history of this aircraft and crew; I look forward to combining our efforts to honor these men.

Also -- I am happy to know I was incorrect that there were no men left from this crew. Fred B. Holtz is alive and well! Great news!

Keith S. Gordon

[CloudCraft]

Just off the phone with Jim Foltz, son of copilot Fred Foltz! I have scanned the research papers in my possession and am posting a few.

With respect and thanks to the generation of German researchers at this site, I'm happy to send up the original German reports.

I would be happy to upload higher resolution scans to anyone who asks.

Keith S. Gordon
Son of Julius W. Gordon, Radio Operator

[Stolen_moments]

I Have The Following Documents all reference this B-24 I sent them to Jim.

1. Extracts 8th Air Force War Diary
2. Aircraft Record Card
3. Crew Photos
4. Extracts from in Search of Peace
5. Kriege by Leonard Lincoln Waist gunner on Stolen moments
6. Extracts from The Liberator Men of Old Buck
7. Extracts from The Mighty Eight War Manual
8. My aunts Notification of Her Son Bob Robert Thompson Being Shot down
9. Air force record of Loss
10. Escape And Evasion Report of Bill Banias and Fred B. Foltz
11. Excerpts from KG 200 regarding capture of 42-52627
12. Liberator by Lloyd
13. Missing Air Crew Report 24 Pages
14. Operational Diary for July 12, 1944
15. The Strange story of Charles Boungart.

Also there is mention in Strangers in a Strange Land vol. 1 & 2 by Hans-Henri Stapfer.
Leonard Lincoln and John Staetler are Still Alive. as far as I know.

Anyone have any pics? other than the ones I posted on the 453rd BG 733 & 735 Bomb Group?

I want to build a model of this Bird.

Cheers
Tim

[Stolen_moments]

Bere Are Photos of Bill Banias Crew Taken July 1944 The 2nd Crew of Stolen Moments, The Johhnson Crew That Flew Stolen Moments Plus The Mission Log.

Missions flown by dark olive drab/neutral grey
B-24H-15 (16 after modification) FO 42-52627
“Stolen Moments”
Received in March 1944 as a replacement aircraft by
453rd BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY)
733rd BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (HEAVY) Code: F8
Radio call letter: Z
Transferred in June or July 1944 after major repairs to
735th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (HEAVY) Code: H6
Radio call letter: N-
Crew Chiefs: unknown

Mission numbers
Date
Target (Germany unless shown otherwise)
Pilot’s name, Position in formation, Remarks & Flying time
Hard-stand
A/c
453 BG
8 AF





1944
733rd BOMB SQUADRON
1
26
282
Mar 27
Pau/Pont Long, France
Airfield
Andrew BORESKE, Jr.
#8 in 2nd section
Landed at Boreham short of gas.
37
-
27
287
Apr 1
Ludwigshafen
Chemical works
Hal S KIMBALL
#2 in 2nd section
Aborted and landed at Hethel with # 3 feathered (2:06 hrs flying time)
37
2
28
291
Apr 8
Brunswick
Aircraft engine factory
Hal S KIMBALL
#6 in 2nd section
(5:31 hrs flying time)
37
-
29
293
Apr 9
Tutow
Airfield
Hal S KIMBALL
#8 in 1st section
Aborted and landed at Shipdham (4:01 hrs flying time) returned to Old Buckenham 2½ hrs later
37
3
30
295
Apr 10
Orléans/Bricy or Romorantin, France
Airfield
Hal S KIMBALL
#6 in 2nd section
Primary target: Tours, France, airfield
37
-
31
298
Apr 11
Oschersleben
Aircraft factory
Hal S KIMBALL
#15 in 1st section
Aborted – couldn’t keep up with formation (3:28 hrs flying time)
37
-
32
300
Apr 12
Zwickau
Airfield and repair depot
Hal S KIMBALL
#13 in 2nd section
Mission recalled due to adverse weather before the planes reached the enemy coast (2:54 hrs flying time)
37
4
34
306
Apr 18
Rathenow, 40 miles W of Berlin
Heinkel aircraft parts factory
Gustav R JOHNSON
#5 in 2nd squadron (“B” Force)
(7:29 hrs flying time)
37
5
35
308
Apr 19
Paderborn
Airfield & equipment depot
George M WEAR
#3 in 2nd section
(6:10 hrs flying time)
37
6
36
309
Apr 20
Wizernes, France
V weapon launching site
Elmer B CROCKETT
#4 in 1st section
(4:25 hrs flying time)
45
7
37
311
Apr 22
Hamm
Marshalling yards
Gustav R JOHNSON
#11 in 2nd section
(6:42 hrs flying time)
37
8
38
315
Apr 24
Gablingen, 5 miles N of Augsburg
Air supply & repair depot
George H CAHILL
#5 in low left on 389th BG
(8:10 hrs flying time)
37
9
39
317
Apr 25
Mannheim
Marshalling yards
Gustav R JOHNSON
#13 in 1st section
(8:09 hrs flying time)
Target area was 10/10 undercast. Due to mechanical trouble in the lead aircraft, the bombardier jettisoned his bombs in an open field and turned around to head for home station. The other aircraft in the formation (including 42-52627) dropped their bombs on the lead aircraft
37
10
40
319
Apr 26
Gütersloh
Airdrome
John A “Jack” NORTRIDGE
#7 in 1st section
Formation did not release bombs
(5:02 hrs flying time)
37
11
41
322
Apr 27
Marquise/Hydrequent, France
V weapon launching site
Gustav R JOHNSON
#8 in 2nd section
Morning mission
(3:24 hrs flying time)
37
12
42
323
Apr 27
Blainville-sur-l’Eau, France
Marshalling yards
George H CAHILL
#12 in 2nd section
Afternoon mission
37
13
43
327
Apr 29
Berlin
Friedrichstrasse railroad station
Harry NOWALIS
#11 in Division lead squadron
Landed at Beccles – nose wheel flat tyre, # 2 engine out
(7:53 hrs flying time)
Repaired Apr 30 – Jun 1: #1 & #3 engines, wing panel, main landing gear, electrical system and other damage – see photos provided by Tim Rathbone
37



735th BOMB SQUADRON
14
102
458
Jul 7
Halle, 20 miles W of Leipzig
Aircraft assembly plant
Bill B BANIAS
#8 in 1st section
(6:56 hrs flying time)
20
15?
103
460
Jul 8
Jussy, France
Railroad bridge
Bill B BANIAS
#6 in low left squadron (this squadron appears to have lost the formation – sortie credit may not have been given)
Bad weather forced all three squadrons to return without dropping bombs.
(3:03 hrs flying time)
20
-
104
466
Jul 11
Munich/Riem
Air park
Bill B BANIAS
#3 in 3rd squadron
Aborted
(2:35 hrs flying time)
20
15 or 16
105
469
Jul 12
Munich/Riem
Air park
Bill B BANIAS
#3 in high right squadron
Hit by flak and on fire, he headed for Switzerland but crash-landed at Ensisheim, between 15 & 20 km north of Mulhouse, France. The aircraft was repaired by the Germans, given German markings and was being prepared for take-off when it was shot up and destroyed by a P-38 Lightning. The position of the B-24 had been communicated to the Allied forces by the French Resistance organisation.
20

Compiled by Tom Brittan May 2007

[Stolen_moments]

A Smaller Pic of Bill Banias Crew And Stolen moments

8th Air Force 453rd Bomb Group 42-52627 STOLEN MOMENTS N/A Shot down 7-21-44 near Ensisheim 42-52627 STOLEN MOMENTS N/A Shot down 7-21-44 near Ensisheim Record #: "30"

B-24 H Stolen Moments 42-52627 shot down 7-12-1944 near Ensisheim/Klass Germany. Crew -Pilot Bill B. Banias; co-pilot Fred B. Foltz; nav. Richard A. Mateis; Bombadier John A. Staedler R.c.m. Julius W. Gordon; Top Turret Charles J. Scheffer; nose gunner Robert D. Thompson (my cousin); Right waist Bill G. Hileman; Left waist Leonard E. Lincoln; Tail Gunner Albert G. Hits. 112 07/21/44 Munich, Germany – Bad Wthr; Railway Yard-Saarbrucken

[Stolen_moments]

If any one else has Photos please post them here.

Thanks
Tim

[kimo90808]

Spoke with my dad today to relay that I had spoken with the BOMBARDIER John Staedler earlier this morning!!! This is a big deal BTW. He's a cool guy, when I asked him which one he was in the line-up of the photo, he said, "pick the most handsomest guy there, thats ME",,,,,,,I like him, great man

This is an Axis website right? My dad (copilot) and pilot (Bill Banius) managed not being captured 18 days!!! I asked him how, keep in mind my dad has not discussed to ANY family member, EVER. My new question is are there German reports on this day, to perhaps shed light on the pilots capture?

Are there German records of captures of American Airmen or any other records that MIGHT help out putting this story together for my son's, his grandsons?

He said they were in a forest, near dusk, and along came a soldier, BUSTED, no idea where

These past couple weeks have been phenomenal, The questions are many, but I'm finally able to make sense of the story for my boy's and their grandfather,,,on an Axis website!

[kimo90808]

Richard Matheis, navigator



Fred Foltz, co-pilot

[kimball]

My Dad was Hal S. Kimball, jr. mentioned in this thread. I will post more info on his flight records at a later date. His documents are packed and I won't be able to get to them right now. He piloted two B-24s in the 453rd, primarily in the Yardbird and also the FUBAR. His first plane, FUBAR was flown by another substitute crew and was shot down. I have very little knowledge of it. There is only one living crew member from the Yardbird. I am looking for any details on his other missions beyond what is in flight logs. His crew names and pictures are in the 8th Air Force book published about 10 years ago. It is also packed and I will post references later.

[stellung]

This aircraft was being prepared for delivery to a secret Luftwaffe unit known as KG 200. According to KG 200 by Geoffrey J. Thomas and Barry Ketley, it came down at Reguisheim (accent over the first e). A paragraph on this appears on page 55. It was not used due to the strafing incident.

[SRobinson]

This is a great website. So good to read of all the crew from my dad's air force days.
Dad was Albert G. Hitz of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Unfortunately he passed away in November 1980.
He spoke very little of his days in the war, especially the bombing runs.
I have exact copies of the picture of the crew in front of the airplane!! He noted to me about being shot down and being captured by the Germans when he was so close to the Swiss border. He noted the Death March from Stalag Luft 4 that is was more like all the somewhat healthy guys dragging along all the sick guys.
One treasured keepsake I have is a small diary he kept while in the POW camp, it is made from cardboard from Red Cross rations box and some paper he somehow appropriated. It is mostly a list of many crewmen he met in the camp and a few pages (all held together with a shoe string - really!!) about daily life and then the best page is the last page where he quickly describes liberation!!
Thank you for all the great information on this website, I'll make sure my two sisters and my mom get this website as well.
Sharon Hitz Robinson