The Consolidated B-24 Liberator (Blue I) bomber was shot down during a raid on a chemical complex in the town of Blechhammer. The plant in Blechhammer was one of the most protected targets in Europe.
On that day, 400 combat bombers flew to the mission from the allied airfields in Italy, accompanied by almost 300 P-38 and P-51 fighters. Due to bad weather conditions, only a third of the planes reached the destination.
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator “Blue I” commander was Lieutenant Colonel Clarence “Jack” Lokker, who was the commander of the 781st Bomber Squadron of the 465th Bomber Group. Unbelievable, but in this catastrophe all six crew members survived and only the commander was killed – on the ground, on the same day.
Location: Poland
Date: November 20, 1944