MSG US Army
68th SQ, 44th Bomb Group, Radio Operator
The primary target for the bomber squad that day was Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but due to severe weather and poor navigation, it was decided to hit a "target of opportunity" at Lemmer, Holland. But immediately after bombing the harbor facilities, the formation was hit by both Luftwaffe ME (Messerschmitt) 109s and Fw (Focke-Wulf) 190s, numbering about 35.
68th SQ, #41-23776
W Sullivan, Pilot
SPIRIT OF '76 MACR #15459
KIA -- DUKE, BENJAMIN F M/SGT Radio Operator
Clanton, Alabama ASN 6376260
About 1205 hours, this aircraft was attacked by three Fw 190s, boring in from ahead and above. One or more 20-mm shells hit #776 in a vital spot and the bomber's #3 engine broke into flames and the airplane dropped out of formation. Shortly thereafter, three men were seen to bail out, and then came an explosion, ripping it apart in mid-air. The rear fuselage and tail units fell into the Terschelling Harbor; the rest was scattered over the Noordsvaarder shallows and Terschelling beach. The lifeboat, "Brandaris" was able to save only one man, 2nd LT Albert W Glass. Much later he was repatriated back to the States. LT Glass stated that when the plane exploded he was blown clear and somehow his chute opened. Later, Glass was sent to a POW camp (around July 1943) where CAPT James O'Brien saw him.
[SOURCE: 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties, July 2005 edition]
68th SQ, 44th Bomb Group, Radio Operator
The primary target for the bomber squad that day was Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but due to severe weather and poor navigation, it was decided to hit a "target of opportunity" at Lemmer, Holland. But immediately after bombing the harbor facilities, the formation was hit by both Luftwaffe ME (Messerschmitt) 109s and Fw (Focke-Wulf) 190s, numbering about 35.
68th SQ, #41-23776
W Sullivan, Pilot
SPIRIT OF '76 MACR #15459
KIA -- DUKE, BENJAMIN F M/SGT Radio Operator
Clanton, Alabama ASN 6376260
About 1205 hours, this aircraft was attacked by three Fw 190s, boring in from ahead and above. One or more 20-mm shells hit #776 in a vital spot and the bomber's #3 engine broke into flames and the airplane dropped out of formation. Shortly thereafter, three men were seen to bail out, and then came an explosion, ripping it apart in mid-air. The rear fuselage and tail units fell into the Terschelling Harbor; the rest was scattered over the Noordsvaarder shallows and Terschelling beach. The lifeboat, "Brandaris" was able to save only one man, 2nd LT Albert W Glass. Much later he was repatriated back to the States. LT Glass stated that when the plane exploded he was blown clear and somehow his chute opened. Later, Glass was sent to a POW camp (around July 1943) where CAPT James O'Brien saw him.
[SOURCE: 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties, July 2005 edition]
MSG US Army
68th SQ, 44th Bomb Group, Radio Operator
The primary target for the bomber squad that day was Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but due to severe weather and poor navigation, it was decided to hit a "target of opportunity" at Lemmer, Holland. But immediately after bombing the harbor facilities, the formation was hit by both Luftwaffe ME (Messerschmitt) 109s and Fw (Focke-Wulf) 190s, numbering about 35.
68th SQ, #41-23776
W Sullivan, Pilot
SPIRIT OF '76 MACR #15459
KIA -- DUKE, BENJAMIN F M/SGT Radio Operator
Clanton, Alabama ASN 6376260
About 1205 hours, this aircraft was attacked by three Fw 190s, boring in from ahead and above. One or more 20-mm shells hit #776 in a vital spot and the bomber's #3 engine broke into flames and the airplane dropped out of formation. Shortly thereafter, three men were seen to bail out, and then came an explosion, ripping it apart in mid-air. The rear fuselage and tail units fell into the Terschelling Harbor; the rest was scattered over the Noordsvaarder shallows and Terschelling beach. The lifeboat, "Brandaris" was able to save only one man, 2nd LT Albert W Glass. Much later he was repatriated back to the States. LT Glass stated that when the plane exploded he was blown clear and somehow his chute opened. Later, Glass was sent to a POW camp (around July 1943) where CAPT James O'Brien saw him.
[SOURCE: 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties, July 2005 edition]
68th SQ, 44th Bomb Group, Radio Operator
The primary target for the bomber squad that day was Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but due to severe weather and poor navigation, it was decided to hit a "target of opportunity" at Lemmer, Holland. But immediately after bombing the harbor facilities, the formation was hit by both Luftwaffe ME (Messerschmitt) 109s and Fw (Focke-Wulf) 190s, numbering about 35.
68th SQ, #41-23776
W Sullivan, Pilot
SPIRIT OF '76 MACR #15459
KIA -- DUKE, BENJAMIN F M/SGT Radio Operator
Clanton, Alabama ASN 6376260
About 1205 hours, this aircraft was attacked by three Fw 190s, boring in from ahead and above. One or more 20-mm shells hit #776 in a vital spot and the bomber's #3 engine broke into flames and the airplane dropped out of formation. Shortly thereafter, three men were seen to bail out, and then came an explosion, ripping it apart in mid-air. The rear fuselage and tail units fell into the Terschelling Harbor; the rest was scattered over the Noordsvaarder shallows and Terschelling beach. The lifeboat, "Brandaris" was able to save only one man, 2nd LT Albert W Glass. Much later he was repatriated back to the States. LT Glass stated that when the plane exploded he was blown clear and somehow his chute opened. Later, Glass was sent to a POW camp (around July 1943) where CAPT James O'Brien saw him.
[SOURCE: 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties, July 2005 edition]
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Alabama
44 AAF Bomb Group
World War II
AM - PH
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