93 Bombardment Group / 409 Bombardment Squadron
1st Lieutenent William SCHMOLLER
From South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Killed in Action 28th January 1945 as pilot of B-24J / #42-50679 / YM-'U'.
Took off from Harwick airfield. Target: Dortmund, Germany.
After bombs-away two engines were knocked out by flak and the pilot ordered the crew to bale out. It is believed that Lt Schmollers' parachute failed to open.
The aircraft crashed near Hövel, south-west of Arnsberg / Sauerland. 1 KIA / 8 POW.
MACR 12009
1Lt Schmoller is buried at Margraten Cemetery K-13-7. Also see
452 Bombardment Group / 729 Bombardment Squadron
Sergeant John W. AHEARN
From Hastings, Minnesota
Killed in Action 12th May 1944 as Ball Turret Gunner of B-17G / #42-97235.
Took off from Deopham Green airfield. Target: the Zwickau oil installations, Germany.
Attacked by enemy fighters the aircraft went into a flat spin and exploded in mid-air on the Merzhausen aerodrome near Usingen. 5 KIA / 5 POW. MACR 4778.
Note: apparently cadet Ahearn 'washed out'of Primary flight Training and was retrained as an aerial gunner.
Sergeant Ahearn is buried at Ardennes Cemetery B-37-37. Also see
384 Bombardment Group / 544 Bombardment Squadron
1st Lieutenant Lee W. DODSON
From Carthage, Missouri
Missing in Action 13th September 1944 as pilot of B-17G / #43-38213 / SU-'D'.
Took off from Grafton Underwood airfield. Target: the Merseburg oil refineries, Germany.
Hit by flak just after bombs-away the aircraft spun down in flames and exploded in mid-air.
Lt Dodson was wounded by flak, unable to leave the aircraft and killed in the explosion.
Crashed at Atzendorf, 2 miles west of Merseburg. 4 KIA / 5 POW. MACR 8902.
Lieutenant Dodson is commemorated on the Henri Chapelle Cemetery Tables of the Missing.
453 Bombardment Group / 733 Bombardment Squadron
Technical Sergeant Robert A. BELTZ
From Wausau, Wisconsin
Missing in Action on 17th February 1945 as Radio Operator of B-24H / #42-51149 / F8-U+ / 'Blood and Guts'. Took off from Old Buckenham airfield. Target: Magdeburg, Germany.
Ditched in the North Sea about 9 miles north of Cromer, Norfolk.
Four crew members were rescued by a British minesweeper within 30 minutes but six other crew members were lost at sea. 4 MIA / 6 RTD. MACR 16087.
T/Sgt Beltz is commemorated on the Cambridge Cemetery Tablets of the Missing.
Note: cadet Robert A. Beltz is assumed to have 'washed out' of Flight Training at Jones Field and was subsequently retrained as a Radio Operator.
The above info on #42-51149 is courtesy of www.b24bestweb.com
391 Bombardment Group / 575 Bombardment Squadron
2nd Lieutenant HOWARD H. NOLAND
From Columbus, Mississippi.
Killed on an Operation Mission (KOM) on 24th September 1944 as pilot of B-26B / #42-95853 / O8-'F' / 'Miss Laid'.
Returning to Matching Green from A-73 airfield in France after ferrying personnel.
The aircraft struck the top of a tree and crashed at Chelmsford Road, Hatfield Heath, Essex, UK. 3 KNO.
2Lt Noland is buried at Cambridge Cemetery, F-1-27.
The crash site photographs are courtesy of www.391bombgroup.org.uk
The nose art photograph above is courtesy of AAMIB / IWM / UPL 20956.
The artist impression of B-26B #42-95853 is courtesy of www.markstyling.com
492 Bombardment Group / 856 Bombardment Squadron
Staff Sergeant Howard J. SCHWEGEL
From Dayton, Ohio
Killed on an Operational Mission (KOM) 4th June 1944 as Left Waist Gunner in B-24H / #42-95160 / 5Z-'S'. Took off from North Pickenham airfield. Target: Avord, France.
After take-off and at about 16,500 ft altitude the aircraft stalled, spun in and crashed at Holland Hall, Mattishall Road at Garveston. 2 miles east of Shipdham, Norfolk.
All 10 crew members perished in the crash.
Also two firefighters were killed when the bomb load (312x 20 lbs fragmentation bombs) exploded.
SSgt Schwegel is buried at Cambridge Cemetery E-1-73.
Both crash site photographs and additional info are courtesy of www.b24bestweb.com
446 Bombardment Group / 706 Bombardment Squadron
1st Lieutenant Ralph Vincent SHAFFER
From Akron, Ohio.
Missing in Action 26th August 1944 as pilot of B-24H / #41-29177 / RT-'R' / 'Ginger'.
Target: Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Hit by flak and crashed at Schoeneck near Forbach, France, south-west of Saarbruecken, Germany. 6 KIA / 4 POW. MACR 8471.
1Lt Shaffer is commemorated on the Cambridge Cemetery Tablets of the Missing.
The photograph above left is courtesy of AAMIB/IWM/Freeman collection FRE 6604.
The nose art photograph is courtesy of http://www.b24bestweb.com/