Capt. Harry R. Simons, O-795841, Pilot, B-17 #42-31028, "MOJO," 524th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group (H), 8th Air Force. Killed in Action over Germany when an anti-aircraft shell hit the aircraft's bomb-bay causing the B-17 to explode. He entered the service on 27 December 1941 from Charleroi, Pennsylvania. He was married.
On 22 February 1944, Capt. "Dick" Simons took off on his 23rd mission to bomb the Junkers aircraft motor factory in Halberstadt, Germany. Due to bad weather, many of the aircraft in the lead squadron of the 379th Bomb Group, diverted and dropped their bombs on Werngrade, Germany. Capt. Simons' aircraft was among them. His aircraft took a direct flak hit to the bomb bay. Capt. Simons was able to give an order for the crew to check parachutes before the aircraft exploded, killing 7 of the 10 member crew. Only 1st Lt. William Bonin (bombardier), S/Sgt. Rufus W. Till (right waist gunner) and T/Sgt. Raymond W. Veiders, Jr (tail gunner) survived.
The six other crew members Killed In Action
were:
1st Lt. John H Robins, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Robert W Jones, Navigator
SSgt. Leo S Borkowski, Waist Gunner
Sgt. James F Fallon, Engineer-Top Turret
Sgt. Donald P Harmon, Ball Turret
TSgt. Ole K Nelson, Radio Operator
On 22 February 1944, Capt. "Dick" Simons took off on his 23rd mission to bomb the Junkers aircraft motor factory in Halberstadt, Germany. Due to bad weather, many of the aircraft in the lead squadron of the 379th Bomb Group, diverted and dropped their bombs on Werngrade, Germany. Capt. Simons' aircraft was among them. His aircraft took a direct flak hit to the bomb bay. Capt. Simons was able to give an order for the crew to check parachutes before the aircraft exploded, killing 7 of the 10 member crew. Only 1st Lt. William Bonin (bombardier), S/Sgt. Rufus W. Till (right waist gunner) and T/Sgt. Raymond W. Veiders, Jr (tail gunner) survived.
The six other crew members Killed In Action
were:
1st Lt. John H Robins, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Robert W Jones, Navigator
SSgt. Leo S Borkowski, Waist Gunner
Sgt. James F Fallon, Engineer-Top Turret
Sgt. Donald P Harmon, Ball Turret
TSgt. Ole K Nelson, Radio Operator
Capt. Harry R. Simons, O-795841, Pilot, B-17 #42-31028, "MOJO," 524th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group (H), 8th Air Force. Killed in Action over Germany when an anti-aircraft shell hit the aircraft's bomb-bay causing the B-17 to explode. He entered the service on 27 December 1941 from Charleroi, Pennsylvania. He was married.
On 22 February 1944, Capt. "Dick" Simons took off on his 23rd mission to bomb the Junkers aircraft motor factory in Halberstadt, Germany. Due to bad weather, many of the aircraft in the lead squadron of the 379th Bomb Group, diverted and dropped their bombs on Werngrade, Germany. Capt. Simons' aircraft was among them. His aircraft took a direct flak hit to the bomb bay. Capt. Simons was able to give an order for the crew to check parachutes before the aircraft exploded, killing 7 of the 10 member crew. Only 1st Lt. William Bonin (bombardier), S/Sgt. Rufus W. Till (right waist gunner) and T/Sgt. Raymond W. Veiders, Jr (tail gunner) survived.
The six other crew members Killed In Action
were:
1st Lt. John H Robins, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Robert W Jones, Navigator
SSgt. Leo S Borkowski, Waist Gunner
Sgt. James F Fallon, Engineer-Top Turret
Sgt. Donald P Harmon, Ball Turret
TSgt. Ole K Nelson, Radio Operator
On 22 February 1944, Capt. "Dick" Simons took off on his 23rd mission to bomb the Junkers aircraft motor factory in Halberstadt, Germany. Due to bad weather, many of the aircraft in the lead squadron of the 379th Bomb Group, diverted and dropped their bombs on Werngrade, Germany. Capt. Simons' aircraft was among them. His aircraft took a direct flak hit to the bomb bay. Capt. Simons was able to give an order for the crew to check parachutes before the aircraft exploded, killing 7 of the 10 member crew. Only 1st Lt. William Bonin (bombardier), S/Sgt. Rufus W. Till (right waist gunner) and T/Sgt. Raymond W. Veiders, Jr (tail gunner) survived.
The six other crew members Killed In Action
were:
1st Lt. John H Robins, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Robert W Jones, Navigator
SSgt. Leo S Borkowski, Waist Gunner
Sgt. James F Fallon, Engineer-Top Turret
Sgt. Donald P Harmon, Ball Turret
TSgt. Ole K Nelson, Radio Operator
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CAPT, 379 AAF BOMB SQ WORLD WAR II
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