Albert Fensel
First Lieutenant Albert J. Fensel ASN #O-792572 419th Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy Hometown: Williams Street, Bradford, PA Missing in action 11 August 1943 Tablets of the Missing Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy Pilot of the B-17F Bonnie Sue, his aircraft was shot down while returning on a mission from Terni, Italy. The plane that shot the B-17 down was a captured American P-38 fighter, with a German pilot. http://www.jfgvictoryverlag.com/mckean.goldstars/WWII%20E-G.html A P-38 was captured by the Regia Aeronautica on 12 June 1943 in Sardinia where a ferrying US pilot landed by mistake due to the malfunctioning of the compass. Soon thereafter the aircraft was brought to the Italian Test Center of Guidonia (near Rome), tested and flown with Italian markings by Col. Angelo Tondi (Chief test pilot of the center) in half a dozen scrambles against USAAF bombers attacking Rome and Central Italian targets. On 11 August 1943 Col. Tondi intercepted a B-17F, #42-30307 of 419th BS, 301st BG and shot down it at 12:00 hrs (MACR 490). This was the only successful interception completed by the captured P-38. The aircraft was soon grounded after the low octane fuel quality corroded the P-38s fuel tanks that rendered it inoperable.
Back Row L to R: F/O Bobbie Follet co-pilot; Lt. Richard Jamerson Navigator; Lt. Pete Robeck Bombardier; Lt. Albert J. Fensel Pilot. Front Row L to R: Sgt. Jack Ledford Tail Gunner; Sgt. Bill Cummings Ball Turret; Sgt. Robert Kennedy Waist Gunner; S/Sgt. Rod Robinson Radio Oper.; S/Sgt Martin Poler Engineer; Sgt. Charles Bange Waist Gunner.
MACR: 490
1st Lt. Albert J Fensel was assigned to the 301st BG 419th Squadron. Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Pilot.
8/11/1943 MIA/KIA
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