SSGT. Stuart Layne Huntoon was an Aerial (Turret) Gunner with the 12th Air Force; 57th Bombardment Wing; 321st Bombardment Group; 446th Bombardment Squadron; stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO). He was born and raised in Joplin, Missouri, and later moved to Fort Worth, Texas.

SSGT. Huntoon lived through a Harrowing experience on 27 October 1944, during a Ferrying Mission to the Rome rest camp.

27 Oct 1944--Ferry Mission to Rome--ditched at Sea; survived-MACR: 15562
Friday, 27 October 1944
446th BS War Diary: No Missions. Tragedy struck at the squadron today as the plane to Rome rest camp was forced to ditch under extreme emergency. First Lieutenant Paul R. Noel and Master Sergeant Homer Holm were killed during the ditching and all personnel were sent to the hospital after Air/Sea Rescue was sent out. Promotions are posted for Sergeants Cifuni, Davis and Shettleworth to Staff and new Sergeants are Huntoon and Wilking.

446th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 15562:

A/C B-25; Serial No. 43-27519; (picture of Hula-girl - no name/lettering); MACR-15562; Plane ditched at sea
P Fontaine, Eugene A., Jr., 1Lt, pilot – rescued by Air Sea Rescue
CP Peterson, Frederick I., 1Lt, pilot – rescued by Air Sea Rescue
E Holm, Homer E., M/Sgt, engineering – killed in crash
R Huntoon, Stuart Layne., Sgt, turret gunner – rescued by Air Sea Rescue
PAX Wozniak, Stanley E., 1Lt, pilot – rescued by Air Sea Rescue
PAX Gibbons, George H., 1Lt, pilot – rescued by Air Sea Rescue
PAX Noel, Paul R., 1Lt, bombardier – killed in crash
PAX Adams, Udell Isaac, Cpl, communications – wounded, Rescued by Air Sea Rescue, died 28 Oct 44
PAX Dudley, Jasper E, Sgt, ordnance – rescued by Air Sea Rescue
PAX Rhodes, Noah F. "Dusty", M/Sgt, engineering – rescued by Air Sea Rescue PAX Sommer, Willard V., S/Sgt, communications – rescued by Air Sea Rescue

Excerpt from: 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron War Diary: The first action in three days. Lt Murray of C Flight flew a mission with his crew for the spotting of a B-25 that ditched between Rome and Corsica. Lt Murray spotted the crew in two dinghys and although the ocean swells were extremely large a successful landing was made. The downed crew was picked up and an attempted take-off failed with the result that an HSL towed the Catalina back to Bastia, Corsica.

Excerpt from Aircraft Accident Report 110, dated 7 November 1944:

445th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (M) 321st BOMBARDMENT GROUP (M) APO 650
7 November 1944
SUBJECT: Certificate.

TO: Operations Officer, 321st Bombardment Group (M), APO 650, US Army.

While flying from Catania to Solenzara Airdrome, Corsica, 27 October 1944, at 1140 hours, approximately 40 miles east and slightly south of Solenzara, the undersigned heard the following call on “B” Channel:

“HELLO, DENTIST TOWER, THIS IS 519, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.”

The message was repeated and I heard no more. I reported the call to DENTIST and continued to the field, landing at 1150 hours.

SAMUEL M. DICKERSON, Captain, 0-433656.
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Excerpt from Aircraft Accident Report 110, dated 7 November 1944: (brief narrative of accident. Include statement of responsibility and recommendation for action to Prevent repetition)

On October 27, 1944, airplane No. 43-27519, piloted by 1st Lt. Eugene A. Fontaine, Jr., took off from Solenzara A/D, Corsica, at 0950 hours to ferry personnel to Rome, Italy, to rest camp. Upon arrival at Rome it was found that all fields were closed, whereupon the pilot circled and headed for his home base. Approximately half way home at least one and possibly two cylinders were blown off, went through the cowling, and hit the vertical stabilizer, which caused loss of rudder control. At the time the airplane was flying just as the base of the clouds at approximately 1500 feet and visibility was approximately forty (40) miles. With no rudder control it was impossible to keep the airplane airborne on a single engine and so the pilot was forced to ditch it.

In the ditching the impact was terrific and the airplane broke into three (3) parts and sank almost immediately. All of the crewmembers and both dinghies were thrown clear of the wreckage, but two (2) of the crewmembers, apparently fatally injured by the impact of the crash, did not survive. The one (1) dinghy was badly punctured and would only hold two (2) men. The other dinghy held seven (7) men until they were rescued. All members properly braced and had their life preservers on.

Power plant malfunction was determined to be the cause of the accident. The pilot is relieved of all responsibility.

It is recommended that all crews be thoroughly briefed in the use of parachutes, life rafts, mae west vests, interphone communication, ditching and bailing out procedure, etc., before taking off on any flight.

(Investigating Officer)-Lt. Col. CHARLES F. CASSIDY
Lt. Col. PAUL T. COOPER
Major ROBERT H. NEUMAN

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SSGT. Stuart Layne Huntoon was Killed In Action on 10 December 1944, during a Bombing Mission over Bologna, Italy.

Sunday, 10 December 1944

446th BS War Diary: The squadron loses a ship over Bologna, Italy, piloted by Lieut. Kaenzig (2Lt Kaenzig actually bombardier). Other crewmen were Lieut. Ritger, Lieut. Rondel, Staff Sergeants Hermanson and Huntoon, and Corporal E. M. Allen. Sergeant Hermanson, an original member of the squadron, had flown 50 combat missions with us in Africa, returned to the states for over a year, then rejoined the squadron. This was his first mission upon his return overseas. T/Sergeant McKearin received a serious wound in the face on the mission and is hospitalized.

446th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 631/mission 631) Group Mission # 631: Squadron Mission 441 TARGET: Bologna Barracks, Italy DATE: 10 Dec.1944 Type of Bombs: 500 lb. 446th Planes: 9 Lt. Dyer led the formation. Excellent concentration in target area. All but SW corner of target covered. One report of large fire and explosion. Incendiary planes report good coverage of three gun positions in target area. Flak was heavy, intense and accurate. Eight planes holed. Airplane piloted by Lt. Ritger was hit badly and was last seen in the Modena area heading S. Capt. Jordan, Lt. Kiernan, Lt. Williams and T/Sgt McKearin were wounded. No fighters.

A/C B-25; Serial No. 43-27895; Plane Nicknamed: “Haulin’ Ass”; MACR-10385; shot down;

THE CREW:
P Ritger, Frederic Charles, 1Lt – MIA, escaped, returned before 22 Dec 44
CP Rondel, Albert Oliver, 2Lt – MIA, POW, returned
N None
B Kaenzig, Charles Leslie, 2Lt – MIA, POW, returned
E Hermanson, Ingwal J., Sgt – KIA, buried in churchyard at Montecuccolo, Italy
R Allen, Emmitt Madison, Cpl – MIA, POW, returned
G Huntoon, Stuart L., S/Sgt – KIA, buried in churchyard at Montecuccolo, Italy
F None

446th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 10385: Lt. Col Paul T. Cooper, ASN 0-392981, checked with the “Blue” Sector Control at Pisa and, through the “Blue” Sector Control, with the “White” Sector Control, the 338th Wing (British Coastal Patrol – west coast Italy on 11 December 1944, for information concerning the missing aircraft. No information was available. Statements of eye witnesses were conflicting and details were meager. For that reason a critique of all the crewman who participated in the mission was held and a summation of the statements made is enclosed

Statements from INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE completed by 1Lt Frederic Charles Ritger:
Hearsay information:
1. By an Italian Farmer who heard it from a German Soldier: Two men were killed when their parachutes either opened too late or did not open at all.

2. By an Italian Farmer: Two unidentified Americans were buried in a church- yard at Montecuccolo, Italy.

Note: I recently heard from a relative of the Italian who aided me. The relative gave me this mans name. It was Baruffi Renati of Pavullo Italy.

Eyewitness Account: Ritger, Frederic Charles, 1Lt, pilot, 446th BS

C E R T I F I C A T E
XAG-LHG-jap-30
23 December 1944

I, 1st Lt. Frederic C. Ritger, 0-524496, do hereby certify that I was pilot of B-25 J type aircraft number 43-27895, 446th Bomb Sq, 321st Bomb Group, which was shot down by enemy aircraft fire near Bologna, Italy, on 10 Dec 44. I parachuted successfully and after landing, evaded capture and remained in enemy territory until I returned to Allied military control on 22 Dec 44. I have read the Missing Air Crew Report on file at Hq, Twelfth Air Force, and can confirm the date contained therein, and can furnish the following additional information. After being hit by flak altitude was maintained during the bomb run but shortly after leaving the target we began to lose altitude. When south of Modena flying on a 230° heading, I called the crew to stand by to bail out and received response from all members. Later, when at about 4000 ft, just northeast of Pavullo I gave the order to bail out. The interphone was then out and no reply was received from the tail of the ship. The order was repeated by the co-pilot whose interphone was still working. I can confirm the fact that Lts. Rondel and Kaenzig and Cpl Allen bailed out before I left the ship and believe that crew members in the rear had also bailed out. After landing, I was informed by partisans that two men were killed when their parachutes either did not open or opened too late. I was further informed that one crew member was taken prisoner by the Germans and that the remaining two crew members were hiding out in the hills. I received no information whatsoever which would allow me to determine which of the crew members were killed.

FREDERIC C. RITGER, 1st Lt., Air Corps.

Stuart L Huntoon