F/O Emil Richard Nyman was a Pilot and received his wings in early June 1943. His Hometown was Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey.

Thursday, 18 January 1945

447th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 685/mission 685) Group Mission # 685: 9 of our planes flew mission on Ala Rail Bridge in northern Italy. Flak was heavy, intense and accurate. Lt. Murchland’s plane had the left engine shot out and the crew bailed out 17 minutes from target in the Po Valley. It is known for certain that five chutes were seen to open and there is a strong possibility that all six men jumped. The ship was under control until just before it crashed and burned. The crew was as follows: 1st Lt. Robert K. Murchland, pilot; F/O Emil R. Nyman, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. John B. Bokum, bombardier; Sgt. Charles J. Hopp, engineer; Sgt. William F. Hourahan, Jr., radio-gunner; and Sgt. Samuel E. Fromm, armorer-gunner.

321st BG; 447th BS

A/C No. 43-4069 Tail # ? “Ruptured Duck” (MACR-11713 - shot down)

Pilot: Murchland, Robert Keith, 1Lt - MIA, evaded enemy, RMC

CoPilot: Nyman, Emil R., F/O - MIA, POW, returned

Navigator: None

Bombardier: Bokum, John B., 2Lt - MIA, POW, returned

Engineer-Gunner: Hopp, Charles J., Sgt - MIA, POW, returned

Radio Op-Gunner Hourahan, William F., Jr., Sgt - KIA

Gunner: Fromm, Samuel E., Cpl - KIA

F: Photographer: None

Eyewitness Account: Dodson, Jackson R., 1Lt, pilot, 447th BS

447th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF

321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF

A.P.O. 650

20 January 1945

360:33 Murchland, R. K., and Crew.

SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report

TO : Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington, D. C. (Thru Channels)

1. I was Pilot of the Plane flying on Lt. Murchland’s left wing on January 18, 1945. Lt. Murchland was leading the second element of the second flight of nine planes.

2. On the break-away from the target, his ship was flying normally and seemed to be undamaged. As soon as the formation rolled out level, after the break, we received several bursts of flak and immediately afterward gasoline began to pour out of the ship’s

left nacelle. I notified 069 immediately and he stated that he was going on single engine. Just after that, he began to lose power and, as a result, airspeed and altitude. Lt. Murchland tried to feather the left engine but was unsuccessful. Not being able to maintain his altitude, he decided to bail out, that being the only possible thing he could

have done under the circumstances.

3. The plane was under control and at approximately 5,000 feet when the last man bailed out. As the last man left the plane, the plane turned to the right and crashed and burned. Five chutes were seen by the men on my crew, but I feel reasonably sure that all of the crew bailed out, since the ship was under control until the last man bailed

out.

JACKSON R. DODSON,

1st Lt., Air Corps,

Pilot.

(Attachment to MAC Rpt

dtd 20 Jan 45, 447th Bomb Sq (M)

Pilot: 1st Lt. Robert K., Murchland,

0-764759, B-25J, A/C No. 43-4069)

J. MAURICE WIGINTON,

Captain, Air Corps,

Operations Officer.

Incl 3.

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Eyewitness Account: Williams, James H., S/Sgt, gunner, 447th BS

447th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF

321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF

A.P.O. 650

20 January 1945

360:33 Murchland, R. K., and Crew.

SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report

TO : Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington, D. C. (Thru Channels)

1. Just off the target I noticed 069 falling behind and called the Pilot of my ship but he already knew that the ship was in trouble--left engine trouble and unable to feather the prop. The ship in which I flew as Tail Gunner and one other ship had dropped back with 069, which was losing altitude. We followed him down part of the way.

2. When the fellows began to leave the plane, they were below and to the left of us and banking back and forth gently. I saw something fly away from the plane which I believe was one of the hatches and almost instantly a figure came out. I followed it with my eyes until the chute opened. Then I saw another body falling and another chute open. That is all that I saw near the ship, but later circling around, I saw three open chutes in the air. The plane in its weaving was out of my sight most of the time because of being under us.

JAMES H. WILLIAMS,

Sergeant, 18052033.

(Attachment to MAC Rpt

dtd 20 Jan 45, 447th Bomb Sq (M)

Pilot: 1st Lt. Robert K., Murchland,

0-764759, B-25J, A/C No. 43-4069)

J. MAURICE WIGINTON,

Captain, Air Corps,

Operations Officer.

Incl 4.

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Eyewitness Account: Lubinsky, Norman B., Sgt, bombardier-gunner, 447th BS

447th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF

321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF

A.P.O. 650

20 January 1945

360:33 Murchland, R. K., and Crew.

SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report

TO : Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington, D. C. (Thru Channels)

1. On the mission on January 18th I was Bombardier on the plane flying on Lt. Murchland’s left wing. Just after coming off the target it was obvious that Lt. Murchland’s plane was in trouble. The first thing that I saw leave the ship looked like a bomb, but it was a delayed jump and the chute opened at about 1000 feet. In just a few

seconds another came out and opened, and then two more blossomed out. Then it seemed a minute before the last man that I saw jump came out, and his chute opened

NORMAN B. LUBINSKY,

Sergeant, 39577232

(Attachment to MAC Rpt

dtd 20 Jan 45, 447th Bomb Sq (M)

Pilot: 1st Lt. Robert K., Murchland,

0-764759, B-25J, A/C No. 43-4069)

J. MAURICE WIGINTON,

Captain, Air Corps,

Operations Officer.

Incl 5.

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Emil R Nyman