Carl Eugene Brewer
Carl was assigned to the 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force and stationed in England.
On 2/3/1945 Carl was on-board the B-24J "Liberator" bomber Sn #42-50551, named "Delectable Doris". First Lieutenant Robert W. Bonnar was the plane's pilot/commander and the target was Magdeburg, Germany. While flying over Ohlendorf/Salzgitter, Germany, his plane was hit by flak, taking a direct hit in the flight deck and in the cockpit. Bonnar sustained grievous injuries in the explosion and was observed to have been unconscious and possibly dead at the controls of the plane. Lt. John Warren Merrill and Sgt. Billy Errol Wiedman were able to get out of the plane and parachute safely to the ground though Merrill was seriously injured. Merrill was able to provide a statement to Army Air Corps investigators about what he witnessed on the plane after the explosions occurred after the war ended and he was back in US hands.
Sgt. Wiedeman reported he saw the tail-gunner, Sgt. Arthur Magellan, bail out as soon as the plane was hit and that his parachute opened. Wiedeman also bailed out shortly thereafter and reported he saw one other chute above him (Merrill) but could not see who it was. Wiedeman landed safely but was soon mauled by angry townspeople due to British Spitfire fighter planes attacking the area. He was taken into custody by some Waffen-SS soldiers who removed him to a barn for his protection and to hold him for further orders. While he was there, he saw a cart come by with the legless body of Lt. Bonnar and another crew member he could not recognize due to the remains being badly burned.
Seven of the Bonnar crew were killed and were buried at the cemetery in Ohlendorf/Salzgitter. Two other crew members were captured and held as Prisoner's of War (POW) until the war ended. The crew of the plane was as follows:
Pilot First Lieutenant Robert W. Bonnar - KIA
Co-Pilot First Lieutenant John W. Merrill - POW
Navigator First Lieutenant Rene G. Van De Voorde - KIA
Radio Operator T/Sgt Charles F. Runchey, Jr. - KIA
Engineer T/Sgt Edward C. Rosengren - KIA
Nose Gunner S/Sgt John H. Springer - KIA
Right Waist Gunner Carl E. Brewer - KIA
Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Billy E. Wiedman - POW
Tail Gunner S/Sgt Arthur M. Magellan - KIA
The bodies buried at Ohlendorf/Salzgitter remained there until after the war. Carl's body was repatriated to the United States for burial in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Carl had flown on "Delectable Doris" many times but the crew was not his original crew and he may have been flying with the Bonnar crew on this mission as a fill-in for another crew member. He was actually a member of the Weiss crew, commanded by First Lieutenant Julius Weiss. The Weiss crew would be shot down on 2/14/1945 while on a bombing mission over Magdeburg, Germany, eleven days after Carl had been killed. All of the Weiss crew would be taken prisoner of war except for Staff Sergeant John E. Brown who was killed in action. German soldiers shot at him as he descended causing his parachute to fail and brown fell to his death. Brown and Brewer had been very good friends.
For further research on Carl, his crew and their tragedy, please refer to the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #12370.
Staff Sergeant Carl Eugene Brewer, Sn# 17169052, earned the following verified badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Army Air Corps Aerial Gunner Wings
- Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with battle stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
Carl was assigned to the 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force and stationed in England.
On 2/3/1945 Carl was on-board the B-24J "Liberator" bomber Sn #42-50551, named "Delectable Doris". First Lieutenant Robert W. Bonnar was the plane's pilot/commander and the target was Magdeburg, Germany. While flying over Ohlendorf/Salzgitter, Germany, his plane was hit by flak, taking a direct hit in the flight deck and in the cockpit. Bonnar sustained grievous injuries in the explosion and was observed to have been unconscious and possibly dead at the controls of the plane. Lt. John Warren Merrill and Sgt. Billy Errol Wiedman were able to get out of the plane and parachute safely to the ground though Merrill was seriously injured. Merrill was able to provide a statement to Army Air Corps investigators about what he witnessed on the plane after the explosions occurred after the war ended and he was back in US hands.
Sgt. Wiedeman reported he saw the tail-gunner, Sgt. Arthur Magellan, bail out as soon as the plane was hit and that his parachute opened. Wiedeman also bailed out shortly thereafter and reported he saw one other chute above him (Merrill) but could not see who it was. Wiedeman landed safely but was soon mauled by angry townspeople due to British Spitfire fighter planes attacking the area. He was taken into custody by some Waffen-SS soldiers who removed him to a barn for his protection and to hold him for further orders. While he was there, he saw a cart come by with the legless body of Lt. Bonnar and another crew member he could not recognize due to the remains being badly burned.
Seven of the Bonnar crew were killed and were buried at the cemetery in Ohlendorf/Salzgitter. Two other crew members were captured and held as Prisoner's of War (POW) until the war ended. The crew of the plane was as follows:
Pilot First Lieutenant Robert W. Bonnar - KIA
Co-Pilot First Lieutenant John W. Merrill - POW
Navigator First Lieutenant Rene G. Van De Voorde - KIA
Radio Operator T/Sgt Charles F. Runchey, Jr. - KIA
Engineer T/Sgt Edward C. Rosengren - KIA
Nose Gunner S/Sgt John H. Springer - KIA
Right Waist Gunner Carl E. Brewer - KIA
Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Billy E. Wiedman - POW
Tail Gunner S/Sgt Arthur M. Magellan - KIA
The bodies buried at Ohlendorf/Salzgitter remained there until after the war. Carl's body was repatriated to the United States for burial in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Carl had flown on "Delectable Doris" many times but the crew was not his original crew and he may have been flying with the Bonnar crew on this mission as a fill-in for another crew member. He was actually a member of the Weiss crew, commanded by First Lieutenant Julius Weiss. The Weiss crew would be shot down on 2/14/1945 while on a bombing mission over Magdeburg, Germany, eleven days after Carl had been killed. All of the Weiss crew would be taken prisoner of war except for Staff Sergeant John E. Brown who was killed in action. German soldiers shot at him as he descended causing his parachute to fail and brown fell to his death. Brown and Brewer had been very good friends.
For further research on Carl, his crew and their tragedy, please refer to the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #12370.
Staff Sergeant Carl Eugene Brewer, Sn# 17169052, earned the following verified badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Army Air Corps Aerial Gunner Wings
- Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with battle stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
Carl Eugene Brewer
Carl was assigned to the 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force and stationed in England.
On 2/3/1945 Carl was on-board the B-24J "Liberator" bomber Sn #42-50551, named "Delectable Doris". First Lieutenant Robert W. Bonnar was the plane's pilot/commander and the target was Magdeburg, Germany. While flying over Ohlendorf/Salzgitter, Germany, his plane was hit by flak, taking a direct hit in the flight deck and in the cockpit. Bonnar sustained grievous injuries in the explosion and was observed to have been unconscious and possibly dead at the controls of the plane. Lt. John Warren Merrill and Sgt. Billy Errol Wiedman were able to get out of the plane and parachute safely to the ground though Merrill was seriously injured. Merrill was able to provide a statement to Army Air Corps investigators about what he witnessed on the plane after the explosions occurred after the war ended and he was back in US hands.
Sgt. Wiedeman reported he saw the tail-gunner, Sgt. Arthur Magellan, bail out as soon as the plane was hit and that his parachute opened. Wiedeman also bailed out shortly thereafter and reported he saw one other chute above him (Merrill) but could not see who it was. Wiedeman landed safely but was soon mauled by angry townspeople due to British Spitfire fighter planes attacking the area. He was taken into custody by some Waffen-SS soldiers who removed him to a barn for his protection and to hold him for further orders. While he was there, he saw a cart come by with the legless body of Lt. Bonnar and another crew member he could not recognize due to the remains being badly burned.
Seven of the Bonnar crew were killed and were buried at the cemetery in Ohlendorf/Salzgitter. Two other crew members were captured and held as Prisoner's of War (POW) until the war ended. The crew of the plane was as follows:
Pilot First Lieutenant Robert W. Bonnar - KIA
Co-Pilot First Lieutenant John W. Merrill - POW
Navigator First Lieutenant Rene G. Van De Voorde - KIA
Radio Operator T/Sgt Charles F. Runchey, Jr. - KIA
Engineer T/Sgt Edward C. Rosengren - KIA
Nose Gunner S/Sgt John H. Springer - KIA
Right Waist Gunner Carl E. Brewer - KIA
Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Billy E. Wiedman - POW
Tail Gunner S/Sgt Arthur M. Magellan - KIA
The bodies buried at Ohlendorf/Salzgitter remained there until after the war. Carl's body was repatriated to the United States for burial in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Carl had flown on "Delectable Doris" many times but the crew was not his original crew and he may have been flying with the Bonnar crew on this mission as a fill-in for another crew member. He was actually a member of the Weiss crew, commanded by First Lieutenant Julius Weiss. The Weiss crew would be shot down on 2/14/1945 while on a bombing mission over Magdeburg, Germany, eleven days after Carl had been killed. All of the Weiss crew would be taken prisoner of war except for Staff Sergeant John E. Brown who was killed in action. German soldiers shot at him as he descended causing his parachute to fail and brown fell to his death. Brown and Brewer had been very good friends.
For further research on Carl, his crew and their tragedy, please refer to the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #12370.
Staff Sergeant Carl Eugene Brewer, Sn# 17169052, earned the following verified badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Army Air Corps Aerial Gunner Wings
- Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with battle stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
Carl was assigned to the 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force and stationed in England.
On 2/3/1945 Carl was on-board the B-24J "Liberator" bomber Sn #42-50551, named "Delectable Doris". First Lieutenant Robert W. Bonnar was the plane's pilot/commander and the target was Magdeburg, Germany. While flying over Ohlendorf/Salzgitter, Germany, his plane was hit by flak, taking a direct hit in the flight deck and in the cockpit. Bonnar sustained grievous injuries in the explosion and was observed to have been unconscious and possibly dead at the controls of the plane. Lt. John Warren Merrill and Sgt. Billy Errol Wiedman were able to get out of the plane and parachute safely to the ground though Merrill was seriously injured. Merrill was able to provide a statement to Army Air Corps investigators about what he witnessed on the plane after the explosions occurred after the war ended and he was back in US hands.
Sgt. Wiedeman reported he saw the tail-gunner, Sgt. Arthur Magellan, bail out as soon as the plane was hit and that his parachute opened. Wiedeman also bailed out shortly thereafter and reported he saw one other chute above him (Merrill) but could not see who it was. Wiedeman landed safely but was soon mauled by angry townspeople due to British Spitfire fighter planes attacking the area. He was taken into custody by some Waffen-SS soldiers who removed him to a barn for his protection and to hold him for further orders. While he was there, he saw a cart come by with the legless body of Lt. Bonnar and another crew member he could not recognize due to the remains being badly burned.
Seven of the Bonnar crew were killed and were buried at the cemetery in Ohlendorf/Salzgitter. Two other crew members were captured and held as Prisoner's of War (POW) until the war ended. The crew of the plane was as follows:
Pilot First Lieutenant Robert W. Bonnar - KIA
Co-Pilot First Lieutenant John W. Merrill - POW
Navigator First Lieutenant Rene G. Van De Voorde - KIA
Radio Operator T/Sgt Charles F. Runchey, Jr. - KIA
Engineer T/Sgt Edward C. Rosengren - KIA
Nose Gunner S/Sgt John H. Springer - KIA
Right Waist Gunner Carl E. Brewer - KIA
Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Billy E. Wiedman - POW
Tail Gunner S/Sgt Arthur M. Magellan - KIA
The bodies buried at Ohlendorf/Salzgitter remained there until after the war. Carl's body was repatriated to the United States for burial in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Carl had flown on "Delectable Doris" many times but the crew was not his original crew and he may have been flying with the Bonnar crew on this mission as a fill-in for another crew member. He was actually a member of the Weiss crew, commanded by First Lieutenant Julius Weiss. The Weiss crew would be shot down on 2/14/1945 while on a bombing mission over Magdeburg, Germany, eleven days after Carl had been killed. All of the Weiss crew would be taken prisoner of war except for Staff Sergeant John E. Brown who was killed in action. German soldiers shot at him as he descended causing his parachute to fail and brown fell to his death. Brown and Brewer had been very good friends.
For further research on Carl, his crew and their tragedy, please refer to the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #12370.
Staff Sergeant Carl Eugene Brewer, Sn# 17169052, earned the following verified badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Army Air Corps Aerial Gunner Wings
- Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
- Purple Heart Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with battle stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
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