von Platen's Crew

This is Crew #6328, this picture was taken at the staging area for crews, Lincoln, Nebraska(1944). They are (from left to right): (Back) CPL Mike Malhalko (eng/left waist), CPL Raymond Richlow (Radio/Gunner), CPL Dante Vilardi (Right Waist), CPL Lockhard (ball), CPL Lapke (Upper), CPL "Tee" Holland (tail); (Front) 2nd LT Bill von Platen (Pilot), 2nd LT John P. Daley (co-pilot), Morton Ronson (Navigator), Dean Spencer (bombardier). (Bob Cross)

On 6 Feb 45, a/c 43-37899, flown by the von Platen crew, was returning from an operational mission. The weather was very bad, with ceilings down to 200-400 ft in patches and visibility comparatively low. On the first approach to the field, the a/c was forced to go around. Wheels had been lowered for the first landing attempt, and were raised for the go around. While circling the field for the second approach, the pilot states he was down as low as 100' at times, and in rain. He (the pilot) was flying contact, the copilot flying instruments as a safety precaution, and the engineer was calling off airspeed. On the second approach, they, all being preoccupied as they were, failed to lower the landing gear. The control tower tried to warn the a/c and avert the landing by calling over station frequency and by firing flares, but neither were adhered to. The a/c completed a belly landing with comparatively small damage.

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