1st LT. William J. Toltzman was a Pilot with the 12th Air Force; 57th Bombardment Wing; 321st Bombardment Group; 447th Bombardment Squadron; and stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO). His Hometown was Green Bay Wisconsin.

On 19 February 1944, Lt. Toltzman was piloting B-25; Serial No. 43-3413; on a shuttle service between Vincenzo and Gaudo, when his plane exploded in air and crashed into Lake Lesina north of Foggia, Italy. All 7 aboard were killed.

A/C B-25; Serial No. 43-3413; MACR-2717; exploded in air; crashed in Lake Lesina, near Foggia, Italy.

P Toltzman, William J., 1Lt - MIA, KNB
E Edwards, Earl W., Pvt - MIA, KNB
PAX Orfila, Frank T., T/Sgt - MIA, KNB
PAX Atkinson, Elmer S., Sgt - MIA, KNB
PAX Brandt, George F., Sgt - MIA, KNB
PAX Cheatle, Walter J., Sgt - MIA, KNB
PAX Nowakowski, Ollie D, T/Sgt - MIA, KNB

PAX denotes PASSENGER

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The official records and reports of the accidnet are found in information contained in the Missing Air Crew Reports, and in the 447th Squadron's War Diary. Additional information, by interviews with the Search and Rescue Teams, were submitted 10 days after the accident.

Saturday, 19 February 1944
447th BS War Diary: Three of our planes 775 (41-29775 “Double Trouble”), 546 (4264546 “Jessie James”), and 413 (43-3413) were lost while on shuttle service between Vincenzo and Gaudo. As yet no detailed information has been secured. Lt. Toltzman in 413 exploded in air and crashed into Lake Lesina north of Foggia. All aboard were killed.

Missing Air Crew Report # 2717: Remains of wrecked plane were found in Lake Lesina, NE of Foggia and bodies of T/Sgt. Nowakowski and Sgt. Cheatle were identified. It is believed that the remaining persons are in the wreckage, recovery of which is being made by the 319th Service Group. As soon as additional persons are recovered, subsequent records will be submitted.

A/C B-25; Serial No. 43-3413; MACR-2717; exploded in air; crashed in Lake Lesina, near Foggia, Italy.
P Toltzman, William J., 1Lt - MIA, KNB
E Edwards, Earl W., Pvt - MIA, KNB
PAX Orfila, Frank T., T/Sgt - MIA, KNB
PAX Atkinson, Elmer S., Sgt - MIA, KNB
PAX Brandt, George F., Sgt - MIA, KNB
PAX Cheatle, Walter J., Sgt - MIA, KNB
PAX Nowakowski, Ollie D, T/Sgt - MIA, KNB

447th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (M)
AAF Office of the Operations Officer
A.P.O. 650

360.33-Toltzman, W. J. & crew. February 29, 1944 SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report.

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

1. Received word at approximately 2000 Feb. 19, 1944 that an airplane from the 557th B.S. had crashed in Lake Lesina. The following morning proceeded to Lake Lesina. A Company of the 21 Eng. was working nearby and I ascertained that two Officers had heard a muffled explosion and then a louder one and saw the plane crash into the lake (Their statements are enclosed). Then proceeded to the scene of the crash.

2. There is a peninsula which is almost impossible to negotiate in a vehicle but with the aid of skid chains, shovels, and a Sergeant from the 21 Engineers our jeep managed to get out to within 125 to 150 yards of the main portion of the fuselage. We scoured the surrounding ground about a mile to a mile and a half back in the swamp and found scattered fragments of the aircraft. It was there that we found the tail section on which was painted in large numerals ‘413’. We enlisted the aid of two fisherman and rowed out to the main portion of the plane. The nose was buried in mud. The water was about 3 or 4 feet deep but the plane had evidently sunk from the nose almost all the way back to the remaining portion of the wings.

3. We found neither bodies or baggage. These two fisherman are the same ones who, on the previous day, were about 25 yards from the plane when it crashed. They said they heard a terrific explosion and then saw the plane hit the water. For many seconds thereafter, according to them fragments of the aircraft kept falling. I tried to get statements from them and then I enlisted the aid of the local Carbinieri, they would write nothing.

4. I then returned and turned the salvaging of the plane over to Major KING of the 319th Serv. Group. This was done after the Eng. Company assured me that because of the impassibility of the road, they had no equipment on hand to drag the plane in.

MYRON GALE, Major, Air Corps,

447th Bomb. Squadron (M); 321st Bomb. Group (M)

360.33-Toltzman, W. J. & crew. February 29, 1944
SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report.
TO: Headquarters, Army Air Forces,
Washington, D. C. (Thru Channels)

1. About 1420, on 19 February 1944, I heard a plane fly over our bivouac area. I noticed it because its engines seemed to die out. As soon as the sound of the engines died down there was a low muffled explosion, and about two seconds later a second sharp explosion, which shook the windows of the building I was in. From all appearances, and from the location of the particles of the plane, it exploded over the shore line and the remainder of the plane crashed in the lake.

J. McCAUSLAND, JR.,

1st Lt., C. E., Co. C, 21st Engr. Ava. Regt.

360.33-Toltzman, W. J. & crew. February 29, 1944
SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report.
TO: Headquarters, Army Air Forces,
Washington, D. C. (Thru Channels)

1. Shortly after 1400 hours on Saturday, February 19, 1944, I was in my quarters and heard a plane over-head and had no sooner heard it then it was cut out followed by a dull explosion.

2. Soon afterward, a matter of seconds, there was a sharper crack which slightly rattled the windows. Nothing was observed due to the fact I was indoors.

R. M. Shumaker,

1st Lt., C. E., Co. “C”, 21st Engr. Ava. Regt.

Eyewitness Account: Ulmer, Edgar F. "Tiger", 1st Lt, Adjutant, HQ 321st BG

TELETYPE MESSAGE

TO 321 BOMB GROUP FROM 319 SERVICE GROUP NUMBER U - 25 TIME 011744 REFERENCE TO RECOVERY OF BODIES FROM PLANE AT LAKE LESINA THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FURNISHED. THE WRECKAGE OF PLANE WAS CHECKED THORGOUGHLY AND NO BODIES WERE FOUND. SEARCH WAS MADE OF AREA IN A RADIUS OF 30 TO 40 YARDS BUT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. MADE CHECK OF AREA WHERE PIECES OF PLANE WERE ON GROUND BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT THE PERSONNEL WAS THROWN ON LAND. A BARRACKS BAG BELONGING TO A SERGEANT POOL WAS FOUND IN FUSELAGE UNDER WATER. END

I certify that the above teletype message is a true copy of message received in HQ, 321st Bomb Group 2 March 1944.

E. F. ULMER, 1st Lt., Air Corps, Adjutant.
(Attachment to MAC Rpt, on Captain Toltzman and crew, dated, February 29, 1944)

William J Toltzman