Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Pentwater, Michigan
Honored By
John Meurs
Relationship
Dutch Historian
SERVICE NUMBER 16088667. WAIST GUNNER WITH THE 389TH BOMB GROUP, 566TH BOMB SQUADRON OF THE 8TH U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE BASED IN ENGLAND. ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1944, HIS AIRCRAFT, THE B-24J, SERIAL NUMBER 44-10579, 'PUGNACIOUS PRINCESS PAT,' RECEIVED TWO DIRECT FLAK HITS ON THE BOMB RUN TO THE SYNTHETIC FUEL PLANT IN MISBURG, GERMANY. ONE WING AND PART OF THE TAIL PIECE BROKE OFF. BOTH WAIST GUNNERS, AMONG THEM THE HONOREE, AND THE PILOT COULD BAIL OUT WHILE THE NAVIGATOR WAS BLOWN CLEAR FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THESE FOUR WERE TAKEN PRISONER. THE SIX OTHERS LOST THEIR LIVES. THEIR BOMBER CRASHED NEAR ALTWARMBĂCHEN IN GERMANY.