After the bomb run on March 23, 1945, Ol' Scrapiron dropped from the 4th Bomb Wing formation and joined the 34th Bomb Group formation returning to England from its mission to Geisecke.  Near Koblenz, one of the 34th aircraft (43-38971) was struck by flak, losing its wing.  The damaged aircraft first rolled into a plane from the 487th, which remained flying, before colliding with Ol' Scrapiron.  The plane from the 447th with the Bruckman crew onboard was broken apart at the waist.

Tailgunner Byron Schlag was the only member of the crew able to bail out, after riding the tail section down to 8,000 feet -- at times losing consciousness from lack of oxygen.  Amazingly, Ed Shibble survived the fall (though sustaining serious injuries), trapped in the ball turret until it broke free of the aircraft as it crashed through some trees.  The two gunners were captured.  The rest of the crew perished along with the entire crew from the 34th.