WWII DOW
Staff Sergeant, 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th Heavy Bomber Group, US Army Air Forces
Air Medal w 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
On May 29, 1945, a bomber piloted by 1st Lt. John S Boeman crashed during pre-dawn takeoff attempt, resulting in the deaths of 4 of its 11 crewmembers. Three crew died instantly, while the 4th, SSgt Eppa H Johnson, died of his injuries 3 days later, on June 1, 1945.
Eppa was married to the former Edith Belle Jones, who was pregnant with their daughter, Mary Ann, at the time. Mary Ann was born on August 26, 1945.
From 371st Bombardment Squadron History:
"On May 29th, tragedy struck at the 371st when six planes were lined up for an early dawn take-off. Three planes were already airborne when Lt. Boeman in A/C #548 crashed at the end of the runway. Within a matter of minutes, his plane burned and two of the 6 1000# GP bombs exploded and four were blown clear and did not explode. By some unexplainable miracle of fate eight crew members out of eleven escaped this raging inferno with their lives. Three died in the accident and were burned beyond recognition. The following men were killed: F/O Dressler, S/Sgt. Shore and S/Sgt. Smeija. The funeral was held for these men on the afternoon of the same day at a Cemetery on Morotai Island. Other members of the crew are recovering from serious burns, broken limbs and severe shock."
The island of Morotai is in present-day Indonesia. At the time of WWII it was part of the Dutch East Indies (Netherlands East-Indies).
Lieutenant Colonel John Sigler Boeman would go on to author "Morotai - A Memoir of War, by John S. Boeman" in 1981.
John Boeman: 78096261
Crew who perished in or because of the crash:
First Officer Alton C. Dressler, Hershey, Pa - Navigator: 20372177
Staff Sergeant Arnold J. Shore, Philadelphia, Pa - Waist Gunner: 204716903
Staff Sergeant Ernest J. Smieja, Minneapolis, Mn - Nose Gunner: 3502704
Staff Sergeant Eppa H. Johnson, Alexandria, Va - Photographer: 56783327
http://wordsenvisioned.com/?tag=307th-bomb-group
Staff Sergeant, 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th Heavy Bomber Group, US Army Air Forces
Air Medal w 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
On May 29, 1945, a bomber piloted by 1st Lt. John S Boeman crashed during pre-dawn takeoff attempt, resulting in the deaths of 4 of its 11 crewmembers. Three crew died instantly, while the 4th, SSgt Eppa H Johnson, died of his injuries 3 days later, on June 1, 1945.
Eppa was married to the former Edith Belle Jones, who was pregnant with their daughter, Mary Ann, at the time. Mary Ann was born on August 26, 1945.
From 371st Bombardment Squadron History:
"On May 29th, tragedy struck at the 371st when six planes were lined up for an early dawn take-off. Three planes were already airborne when Lt. Boeman in A/C #548 crashed at the end of the runway. Within a matter of minutes, his plane burned and two of the 6 1000# GP bombs exploded and four were blown clear and did not explode. By some unexplainable miracle of fate eight crew members out of eleven escaped this raging inferno with their lives. Three died in the accident and were burned beyond recognition. The following men were killed: F/O Dressler, S/Sgt. Shore and S/Sgt. Smeija. The funeral was held for these men on the afternoon of the same day at a Cemetery on Morotai Island. Other members of the crew are recovering from serious burns, broken limbs and severe shock."
The island of Morotai is in present-day Indonesia. At the time of WWII it was part of the Dutch East Indies (Netherlands East-Indies).
Lieutenant Colonel John Sigler Boeman would go on to author "Morotai - A Memoir of War, by John S. Boeman" in 1981.
John Boeman: 78096261
Crew who perished in or because of the crash:
First Officer Alton C. Dressler, Hershey, Pa - Navigator: 20372177
Staff Sergeant Arnold J. Shore, Philadelphia, Pa - Waist Gunner: 204716903
Staff Sergeant Ernest J. Smieja, Minneapolis, Mn - Nose Gunner: 3502704
Staff Sergeant Eppa H. Johnson, Alexandria, Va - Photographer: 56783327
http://wordsenvisioned.com/?tag=307th-bomb-group
WWII DOW
Staff Sergeant, 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th Heavy Bomber Group, US Army Air Forces
Air Medal w 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
On May 29, 1945, a bomber piloted by 1st Lt. John S Boeman crashed during pre-dawn takeoff attempt, resulting in the deaths of 4 of its 11 crewmembers. Three crew died instantly, while the 4th, SSgt Eppa H Johnson, died of his injuries 3 days later, on June 1, 1945.
Eppa was married to the former Edith Belle Jones, who was pregnant with their daughter, Mary Ann, at the time. Mary Ann was born on August 26, 1945.
From 371st Bombardment Squadron History:
"On May 29th, tragedy struck at the 371st when six planes were lined up for an early dawn take-off. Three planes were already airborne when Lt. Boeman in A/C #548 crashed at the end of the runway. Within a matter of minutes, his plane burned and two of the 6 1000# GP bombs exploded and four were blown clear and did not explode. By some unexplainable miracle of fate eight crew members out of eleven escaped this raging inferno with their lives. Three died in the accident and were burned beyond recognition. The following men were killed: F/O Dressler, S/Sgt. Shore and S/Sgt. Smeija. The funeral was held for these men on the afternoon of the same day at a Cemetery on Morotai Island. Other members of the crew are recovering from serious burns, broken limbs and severe shock."
The island of Morotai is in present-day Indonesia. At the time of WWII it was part of the Dutch East Indies (Netherlands East-Indies).
Lieutenant Colonel John Sigler Boeman would go on to author "Morotai - A Memoir of War, by John S. Boeman" in 1981.
John Boeman: 78096261
Crew who perished in or because of the crash:
First Officer Alton C. Dressler, Hershey, Pa - Navigator: 20372177
Staff Sergeant Arnold J. Shore, Philadelphia, Pa - Waist Gunner: 204716903
Staff Sergeant Ernest J. Smieja, Minneapolis, Mn - Nose Gunner: 3502704
Staff Sergeant Eppa H. Johnson, Alexandria, Va - Photographer: 56783327
http://wordsenvisioned.com/?tag=307th-bomb-group
Staff Sergeant, 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th Heavy Bomber Group, US Army Air Forces
Air Medal w 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
On May 29, 1945, a bomber piloted by 1st Lt. John S Boeman crashed during pre-dawn takeoff attempt, resulting in the deaths of 4 of its 11 crewmembers. Three crew died instantly, while the 4th, SSgt Eppa H Johnson, died of his injuries 3 days later, on June 1, 1945.
Eppa was married to the former Edith Belle Jones, who was pregnant with their daughter, Mary Ann, at the time. Mary Ann was born on August 26, 1945.
From 371st Bombardment Squadron History:
"On May 29th, tragedy struck at the 371st when six planes were lined up for an early dawn take-off. Three planes were already airborne when Lt. Boeman in A/C #548 crashed at the end of the runway. Within a matter of minutes, his plane burned and two of the 6 1000# GP bombs exploded and four were blown clear and did not explode. By some unexplainable miracle of fate eight crew members out of eleven escaped this raging inferno with their lives. Three died in the accident and were burned beyond recognition. The following men were killed: F/O Dressler, S/Sgt. Shore and S/Sgt. Smeija. The funeral was held for these men on the afternoon of the same day at a Cemetery on Morotai Island. Other members of the crew are recovering from serious burns, broken limbs and severe shock."
The island of Morotai is in present-day Indonesia. At the time of WWII it was part of the Dutch East Indies (Netherlands East-Indies).
Lieutenant Colonel John Sigler Boeman would go on to author "Morotai - A Memoir of War, by John S. Boeman" in 1981.
John Boeman: 78096261
Crew who perished in or because of the crash:
First Officer Alton C. Dressler, Hershey, Pa - Navigator: 20372177
Staff Sergeant Arnold J. Shore, Philadelphia, Pa - Waist Gunner: 204716903
Staff Sergeant Ernest J. Smieja, Minneapolis, Mn - Nose Gunner: 3502704
Staff Sergeant Eppa H. Johnson, Alexandria, Va - Photographer: 56783327
http://wordsenvisioned.com/?tag=307th-bomb-group
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