After routine orientation upon arriving at Rattlesden, Lt. Lowell Simmons flew his combat orientation mission on June 21, 1944 as co-pilot with Lt. Gerald Carter.  The aircraft, 42-97932, was hit by flak.  Simmons was killed, the rest of the Carter crew captured.  Simmons' original crew flew 35 missions with several first pilots.  
Navigator Leonard Hessenauer's grandson, Greg Schaefer, provided the following photograph and documents.
  

The original Simmons crew at McDill Field, Florida in the spring of 1943.

Leonard Hessenauer's log

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