Werner G. Goering
Capt Werner G. Goering (P) - Was the nephew of Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering Commander in Chief of the Nazi German Luftwaffe. Capt Goering completed 48 credited combat missions on 28 Jan 1945 (Mission 308) and was promoted to Captain while a Lead Crew Pilot
The crew in the photo is the Capt. Werner G. Goering crew. They all completed their tours. If the pilots name sounds very German it should...he was the nephew of Reichsmarshall Hermann Goering, commander of the Luftwaffe. Goering flew a total of 48 combat missions. Goering is in second row, far right. He never knew his co-pilot was under direct order to kill him if it became obvious they were going down in enemy territory.
WERNER G. GOERING CREW - 358th BS
B-17G #43-37838 Fearless Fosdick (358BS) VK-A
(crew assigned 358BS: 07 Aug 1944 - photo: 10 Aug 1944)
(Back L-R) 1Lt William D. Sachau (B), 1Lt Jack P. Rencher (CP),
2Lt Rex H. Markt (N), Capt Werner G. Goering (P)
(Front L-R) S/Sgt Paul A. Bishop (WG), T/Sgt Chester "Chad" Brodzinski (R)(*),
T/Sgt William J. LaPerch, (R), T/Sgt Orall R. "Gus" Gustafson (E)(*),
S/Sgt Clarence W. Houseman (BT)(*), S/Sgt Weldon T. "Tex" Mahan (TG)(*)
(Ranks and Grades at time of last combat mission)
Photo: Hole in the ground from 15 February 1945 explosion of #44-8590.
[photo courtesy of Elmer Prusha, 427th BS]
15 February 1945 mission #315 to Dresden, Germany in PFF B-17G #44-8590 (no name) (358BS) VK-Y. 358th High Squadron lead crew take-off accident, visibility 70 yards, obscured sky requiring instrument take-off. After beginning the take-off roll, the B-17 swerved to the left of the runway, about one-quarter of the way down the runway. Lt Goering asked his CoPilot to apply flaps and full military power. The B-17 became airborne at 95 MPH, wheels were raised, and flaps bled up at 100 mph. The aircraft then began to mush and struck the ground 300 yards west of the east/west runway. Bombardier, Lt Bill F. Condor, suffered a broken arm and three other crewmen had minor injuries. At 0745 hours, ten minutes after the crash, the B-17 exploded and was completely destroyed. All crewmen and other personnel were clear of the B-17 when it exploded. Waist Gunner, S/Sgt J.A. Blinebury, was awarded the Soldiers' Medal for the rescue of Lt. Buckner.
07 December 1944 returning from a routine PFF training flight in PFF B-17G #42-97557 Mercy's Madhouse (358th BS) VK-X. The right landing gear collapsed while making a turn after completing the landing roll. Caused by a broken landing gear reduction screw. There was extensive damage to the #4 propeller and engine and the outboard wing.
22 March 1945 mission #343 to Buer, Germany in PFF B-17G #44-8238 (358BS) VK-Y flying as the 358th High Squadron lead crew. Severe flak knocked out the pilot's oxygen system, #1 engine and interphone. The C-1 autopilot became inoperative and an electrical fire in the cockpit fuse box filled the cockpit with smoke. The bomb run was completed manually.
Forty-nine dispatched (48 credited) combat missions flown by Capt Werner G. Goering:
1Lt Werner G. Goering - First Combat Tour - 34 credited missions
230 (18 Aug 1944), 231, 232, 233, 235, 238, 239, 244, 245, 246, 249, 250, 252, 255, 259, 260, 262, 263, 265, 267, 269, 272, 273, 274, 275, 277, 279, 283, 284, 285, 289 (LC), 297(DLC), 298A (DLC), 299 (DLC) (8 Jan 1945). (LC) Lead Crew Pilot (DLC) Deputy Lead Crew Pilot
Capt Werner G. Goering -Second Combat Tour - 14 credited missions as a Lead Crew Pilot
308 (18 Jan 1945), 310, 314, 315 (A), 320, 323, 327, 330, 332, 335, 340, 343, 350, 355, 363 (20 April 1945). (A) Non-credited aborted mission - take off crash. See "Flight Incidents" below.
Eighteen B-17Gs flown by Capt Werner G. Goering on his 48 dispatched combat missions:
First combat tour - 11 different B-17Gs
- 42-97298 The Floose (358BS) VK-H - Missions 230, 233, 235, 238, 246
- 43-37590 Neva - The Silver Lady (358BS) VK-Q - Missions 244, 245
- 43-38462 Teddy's Rough Riders (358BS) VK-I - Missions 249, 250, 255, 273, 275, 279, 284, 285, 299
- 42-107099 Old 99 (427BS) GN-W - Mission 259
- 42-102945 Sweet Pea (358BS) VK-M - Missions 260, 263, 269, 274, 298A
- 43-38191 Shasta (358BS) VK-A - Missions 272, 277
- 43-38065 Princess Pat 2 (358BS) VK-J - Mission 283
- 43-38999 Emma (358BS) VK-F) Mission 297
- 43-38238 (No name) (358BS) VK-L - Missions 230, 233, 235, 238, 246
- 44-6316 (No name) (358BS) VK-C - Mission 239
- 44-8238 (No name) (PFF B-17G) (358BS) (VK-Y) - Mission 289
Second Combat Tour - 8 different PFF B-17G's
- 44-8125 Sparky (360BS) PU-Y - Missions 310, 332, 363
- 44-8710 Idle Wheel (427BS) GN-Y - Mission 327
- 44-8238 (No name) (358BS) VK-Y - Missions 323, 335, 340, 343, 350
- 44-8351 (No name) (358BS) VK-Z - Missions 308, 320
- 44-8439 (No name) (360BS) PU-Z - Mission 335
- 44-8484 (No name) (358BS) VK-W- Mission 330
- 44-8590 (No name) (358BS) VK-Y - Missions 324, 315 (A)