Bombardier 2nd/Lt. Robert W. Merrell DFC KIA
Hometown: Los Angeles, Cal.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-729458
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. John D. Palm DFC POW
Target: Ploesti (White I.)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24294
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: V
Aircraft Name: BREWERY WAGON
Location: Lost near the target,Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.
Cause: AA and fighter attacks. Crew of 10 2 KIA 8 POW
Lt. Merrell was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 376th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries.
Flown by John Dudley Palm and crew in the first element of second section White I.
On the way to the target Capt. Brian W. Flavelle aircraft went down in the Mediterranean, Flavelles wingman descended to investigate the crash scene and search for survivors. This left Lt. Palm at the head of the second section. When he reached the Initial Point he took up position on the extreme left on the second attack wave.
At this point his navigator advised that the IP had been wrongly identified. Adhering to radio blackout, Palm elected to brake away from the formation and head alone to the target. Coming out of a rain cloud and flying very low, BREWERY WAGON received a direct flack hit on the nose compartment killing the Bombardier and fatally injuring the Navigator. Palm was severely injured in the lower leg One engine was out and the 2 others badly damaged. After jettisoning the bombs on an empty factory the aircraft turned South to escape the flack. Shortly after leaving the target Palm was attacked by Hauptmann W.Steinmann ,CO of 1./4JG. The additional damages caused by the 20 mm and 7.92 mm MG's hits brought the aircraft down in a field at Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.
Crew of BREWERY WAGON
1Lt John D. Palm Pilot
2nd William M. Wright Navigator
2nd/Lt. Robert W. Merrell Bombardier
T/Sgt. Alexander P. Rockinson Engineer
T/Sgt. Harold T. Block Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Wiiliam E. Thompson Gunner
S/Sgt. Clay E. Snyder Gunner
S/Sgt Dallas A. Robertson Gunner
Hometown: Los Angeles, Cal.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-729458
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. John D. Palm DFC POW
Target: Ploesti (White I.)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24294
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: V
Aircraft Name: BREWERY WAGON
Location: Lost near the target,Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.
Cause: AA and fighter attacks. Crew of 10 2 KIA 8 POW
Lt. Merrell was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 376th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries.
Flown by John Dudley Palm and crew in the first element of second section White I.
On the way to the target Capt. Brian W. Flavelle aircraft went down in the Mediterranean, Flavelles wingman descended to investigate the crash scene and search for survivors. This left Lt. Palm at the head of the second section. When he reached the Initial Point he took up position on the extreme left on the second attack wave.
At this point his navigator advised that the IP had been wrongly identified. Adhering to radio blackout, Palm elected to brake away from the formation and head alone to the target. Coming out of a rain cloud and flying very low, BREWERY WAGON received a direct flack hit on the nose compartment killing the Bombardier and fatally injuring the Navigator. Palm was severely injured in the lower leg One engine was out and the 2 others badly damaged. After jettisoning the bombs on an empty factory the aircraft turned South to escape the flack. Shortly after leaving the target Palm was attacked by Hauptmann W.Steinmann ,CO of 1./4JG. The additional damages caused by the 20 mm and 7.92 mm MG's hits brought the aircraft down in a field at Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.
Crew of BREWERY WAGON
1Lt John D. Palm Pilot
2nd William M. Wright Navigator
2nd/Lt. Robert W. Merrell Bombardier
T/Sgt. Alexander P. Rockinson Engineer
T/Sgt. Harold T. Block Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Wiiliam E. Thompson Gunner
S/Sgt. Clay E. Snyder Gunner
S/Sgt Dallas A. Robertson Gunner
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. Robert W. Merrell DFC KIA
Hometown: Los Angeles, Cal.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-729458
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. John D. Palm DFC POW
Target: Ploesti (White I.)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24294
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: V
Aircraft Name: BREWERY WAGON
Location: Lost near the target,Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.
Cause: AA and fighter attacks. Crew of 10 2 KIA 8 POW
Lt. Merrell was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 376th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries.
Flown by John Dudley Palm and crew in the first element of second section White I.
On the way to the target Capt. Brian W. Flavelle aircraft went down in the Mediterranean, Flavelles wingman descended to investigate the crash scene and search for survivors. This left Lt. Palm at the head of the second section. When he reached the Initial Point he took up position on the extreme left on the second attack wave.
At this point his navigator advised that the IP had been wrongly identified. Adhering to radio blackout, Palm elected to brake away from the formation and head alone to the target. Coming out of a rain cloud and flying very low, BREWERY WAGON received a direct flack hit on the nose compartment killing the Bombardier and fatally injuring the Navigator. Palm was severely injured in the lower leg One engine was out and the 2 others badly damaged. After jettisoning the bombs on an empty factory the aircraft turned South to escape the flack. Shortly after leaving the target Palm was attacked by Hauptmann W.Steinmann ,CO of 1./4JG. The additional damages caused by the 20 mm and 7.92 mm MG's hits brought the aircraft down in a field at Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.
Crew of BREWERY WAGON
1Lt John D. Palm Pilot
2nd William M. Wright Navigator
2nd/Lt. Robert W. Merrell Bombardier
T/Sgt. Alexander P. Rockinson Engineer
T/Sgt. Harold T. Block Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Wiiliam E. Thompson Gunner
S/Sgt. Clay E. Snyder Gunner
S/Sgt Dallas A. Robertson Gunner
Hometown: Los Angeles, Cal.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-729458
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. John D. Palm DFC POW
Target: Ploesti (White I.)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-24294
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: V
Aircraft Name: BREWERY WAGON
Location: Lost near the target,Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.
Cause: AA and fighter attacks. Crew of 10 2 KIA 8 POW
Lt. Merrell was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 376th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries.
Flown by John Dudley Palm and crew in the first element of second section White I.
On the way to the target Capt. Brian W. Flavelle aircraft went down in the Mediterranean, Flavelles wingman descended to investigate the crash scene and search for survivors. This left Lt. Palm at the head of the second section. When he reached the Initial Point he took up position on the extreme left on the second attack wave.
At this point his navigator advised that the IP had been wrongly identified. Adhering to radio blackout, Palm elected to brake away from the formation and head alone to the target. Coming out of a rain cloud and flying very low, BREWERY WAGON received a direct flack hit on the nose compartment killing the Bombardier and fatally injuring the Navigator. Palm was severely injured in the lower leg One engine was out and the 2 others badly damaged. After jettisoning the bombs on an empty factory the aircraft turned South to escape the flack. Shortly after leaving the target Palm was attacked by Hauptmann W.Steinmann ,CO of 1./4JG. The additional damages caused by the 20 mm and 7.92 mm MG's hits brought the aircraft down in a field at Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.
Crew of BREWERY WAGON
1Lt John D. Palm Pilot
2nd William M. Wright Navigator
2nd/Lt. Robert W. Merrell Bombardier
T/Sgt. Alexander P. Rockinson Engineer
T/Sgt. Harold T. Block Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Wiiliam E. Thompson Gunner
S/Sgt. Clay E. Snyder Gunner
S/Sgt Dallas A. Robertson Gunner
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from California.
Family Members
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