In February 2023 the USAAF Class Book Project contributed the 2000th photograph to the Fields of Honor Database.
The photograph found was that of 2nd Lieutenant Mervin H. Sussman, from Glastonbury, Connecticut.
Mervin was a radio/radar operator with the 415th Night Fighter Squadron of the USAAF.
The 415th Squadron entered combat as a unit in July 1943, flying British-made Bristol Beaufighter aircraft. The squadron's pilots flew convoy patrols, night patrols, and interception scrambles. (The photograph above shows a 415 NFS Beaufighter. Source: Wikipedia).
Above left: 2Lt Mervin H. Sussman (source: USAAF Class Book Project). Thanks to Ellen Marchese who enhanced the original photograph.
Above right: the radio/radar operator 'bubble' of the Beaufighter aircraft. (Source: Wikipedia).
Mervin H. Sussman was killed in action on the 31st of December 1944 as radio/radar operator of Beaufighter NF VIF with Serial NumberMM921 and the Individual Radio Call Letter 'N.
Piloted by Captain Varillus O. Jones, the aircraft took off from Advanced Landing Ground A-96 at Ochey, France, on a night intruder mission. Vectored to an unidentified aircraft the pilot Captain Jones reported that the 'unknown aircraft' was a B-17 but that his Beaufighter had been fired upon by the B-17. Apparently one engine was shot out and the tail area of the Beaufighter was damaged.
Captain Jones managed to bale out but was killed, probably due to a too low bale-out altitude.
The Beaufighter aircraft crashed between Noroy-Le-Bourg and Lievans, 24 miles west of Belfort, France. 2 KIA.
Above left: Captain Varillus O. Jones (Source: Find a Grave). Above right: A 415 NFS USAAF radar operator and his Beaufighter. (USAAF).
2Lt Mervin H. Sussman was wounded and could not bale out from his confined position of the radar observers 'office'.
He is buried at Epinal Cemetery, B-2-58. Also see https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/.../71685-sussman...
Note that this form has yet to be completed with the new found info.
The original portrait photograph was sourced from Pilot Class Book 43-C, Douglas Field, Georgia.After his Primary Training at Douglas Field, Mervin Sussman also went through Basic Training at Gunter Field. He 'washed out' of pilot training during Advanced Training and was subsequently retrained as a radar operator.
Captain Jones is also buried at Epinal Cemetery (Plot A, Row 14, Grave 2).
Above left: memorial plaque for the WW2 war dead at Glastonbury, Connecticut. (source: Find a Grave).
Above right: Mervin Sussman's grave at Epinal Cemetery. (Source: Find a Grave).
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