Crew 69 - Ditched in the English Channel March 16, 1944

2Lt Neil A.J. Peters Crew 
Standing: Ted Wagner - CP, Neil Peters - P, John Hulse - B, Gasper DiSimone - N 
Kneeling from left: Richard Lowry - TT/E, Peter Morrone - WG, Mike Marino - TG, Unidentified, Unidentified

Crew 69 flew a total of five credited sorties in early March 1944. On the March 16th mission to Friedrichshafen, the crew sustained damage from fighter attacks and attempted to make it home across the English Channel. The control surfaces were severely damaged, making their chances for success very slim. Accounts of this part of their last mission are varied, and there is no official account that can be found of what the true circumstances of their ditching were. It is not known for sure, but from the three letters written to Neil Peters' aunt and uncle, it is most likely that 2Lt John Hulse and Sgt's James Duffy, Carl Lee, Michael Marino, and Peter Morrone bailed out into the Channel shortly after leaving the coast of France when the ship momentarily lost control and the bail out alarm was sounded. Control was regained at about 1000 feet. It is not known just how much further the ship flew, but it is possible that it went some distance. The crew eventually ditched (or crashed) into the water and only three men, Lt Gasper DeSimone, S/Sgt George Conlogue, and Sgt Richard Lowry made it out of the plane. Sgt Lowry died a short time later. The men were picked up by RAF Air Sea Rescue and returned to England.

Neil Peters received a purple heart for his bravery

Neil Peters was with the Liberators Bombardment Group

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