491 BG / 853 BS
2Lt Morris J. VOLDEN
From Cottonwood, Minnesota
KIA 26th November 1944 as co-pilot of B-24H / #41-28884 / T8-'X' / 'Problem Child.
Took off from North Pickenham. Target: the Hannover-Misburg oil refineries, Germany.
Hit by fighters after bombs-away the bomb bay was on fire. The fire came up to the pilot's compartment which may have prevented the pilot and co-pilot to bail out. Both were killed. 2 KIA / 7 POW. Note: 491 BG lost 16 aircraft on this disastrous mission.
The aircraft crashed at Springe - Diester, 18 miles south-west of the target. MACR 10762.
Lt Morris is buried at Ardennes Cemetery A-16-15.
The above photograph plus info are courtesy of www.b24bestweb.com
The two photographs below are courtesy of the American Air Museum in Britain (UPL 17514 and UPL 17515).
The original photographs from this website were enhanced by the editor of this website.
The USAAF Pilot Class Book Research Project has now found all three pilot training class book photographs of cadet Morris J. Volden:
Pilot Class 43-H Curtis Field Primary Training in the heading of this post, 43-H Waco Texas Basic Training (above left) and 43-H Blackland Texas Advanced Training (above right).
391 BG / 573 BS
1Lt George A. EDWARDS
From Overland Park, Kansas
The USAAF Pilot Class Book Research Project has now found all three pilot training class book photographs of cadet George A. Edwards:
Pilot Class 43-H Curtis Field Primary Training in the heading of this post, 43-H Goodfellow Field Basic Training (above left) and 43-H Lubbock Texas Advanced Training (above right).
111 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
1Lt Walter J. VETTER
From Alva, Oklahoma.
KIA 11th April 1945 as pilot of F-6C / #42-103482 / MACR 13753.
Took off from Haguenau, France, on a combat recce to the Neustadt-Ingolstadt area, Germany. Shot down while strafing a train.
Observed to continue the dive (probably hit by flak) and crashed on or near the train and exploded on impact east of Ingolstadt, Germany.
1Lt Vetter is buried at Lorraine Cemetery, D-33-26. Also see
Note that this file has yet to be completed with the new found info.
The USAAF Pilot Class Book Research Project has now found three pilot training class book photographs of cadet Walter J. Vetter:
Pilot Class 43-H Curtis Field Primary Training in the header of this post, 43-H Waco Basic Training (above left) and 43-GH Foster Field Advanced Training (above right).
447 BG / 709 BS
2Lt Frankln R. CHAIMSON
From Washington D.C.
KIA 27-4-1944 as co-pilot of B-17G / #42-31477 / MACR 4294.
Target: 'No Ball site #78', France. Shot down by flak. The aircraft exploded at 15.000 feet and crashed near Nesle-Hodeng, 4 miles south-east of Neufchatel-en-Bray, 37 miles west-south-west of Amiens, France. 2 KIA / 6 POW / 2 EVD.
2Lt Chaimson baled out safely and was probably shot when descending under his parachute or on the ground. The other casualty, S/Sgt Lorusso was killed when he fell on high tension lines. 2Lt Chaimson is buried in Normandy Cemetery D-15-42.
The above photograph plus photo caption is courtesy of the American Air Museum in Britain.
The USAAF Pilot Class Book Research Project has now found all three pilot training class book photographs of cadet Franklin R. Chaimson;
Pilot Class 43-H Goodfellow Basic Training (above left), 43-H Lubbock Advanced Training (above right) and 43-H Curtis Field Advanced Training (in the header above).
373 FG / 410 FS
2Lt Bernard J. ROTH
From South Gate, California.
The USAAF Pilot Class Book Research Project has now found all three pilot training class book photographs of cadet Bernard J. Roth;
Pilot Class 43-H Waco Basic Training (above left), 43-H Curtis Field Primary Training (in the header above) and 43-GH Foster Field Advanced Training (above right).
466 BG / 786 BS
1Lt Oscar Allan WEEKLUND
From Minneapolis, Minnesota.
MIA 25th June 1944 as pilot of B-24H / #41-29371 / U8-'H' / 'The Crippled Bitch' / MACR 6723.
Target: Bretigny airfield, France. Shot down by flak while approaching the target. The aircraft went out of control and exploded with full bomb load after some of the crew had managed to bail out.
Crashed at Les Nous/Vert-le-Grand, on the south-east edge of Bretigny-sur-Orge airfield, south of Paris. 6 KIA / 4 POW.
Lt Weeklund is commemorated on the Brittany Cemetery Tablets of the Missing.
The above info is courtesy of the American War Memorial Overseas website.
The below photograph is courtesy of www.aerosteles.net
The photograph of 1Lt Weeklund on the left and the accompanying info above was sourced from the French Facebook page honoring the Weeklund crew.
The USAAF Pilot Class Book Research Project has now found all three pilot training class book photographs of cadet Oscar Allan Weeklund;
Pilot Class 43-H Waco Basic Training (above left), 43-H Curtis Field Primary Training (in the header above) and 43-H Lubbock Field Advanced Training (above right).