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The B-24, 42-78180, “Maiden USA” was shot down over North Arezzo, Italy on April 25, 1944.
The crew was buried on August 22, 1949 in Section E 124 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. They were assigned to the
722nd Squadron, 450th Bomb Group.
CREW
Back Row - Left to Right:
2nd Lt. Wayne H. Sullivan - Co-Pilot KIA Buried Arlington National
Cemetery
2nd Lt. William J. Kelly - Navigatror KIA Buried Florence American Cemetery
2nd Lt. William H. Harvey - Bombardier POW
2nd Lt. Harmond M. Dessler - Pilot POW
Sgt. Bruce P. Hanson - Gunner
POW
Front Row - Left to Right:
Sgt. Clifton L. Davidson - Radio Operator KIA
Sgt. Francis G. Miliauskas - Engineer KIA
Sgt. Anthony Raffoni - Gunner
KIA
Sgt. James H. Mays - Gunner POW
Sgt. Vernon
L. Coil - Gunner
KIA
MISSIONS
4/5/44 - Ploiesti
4/7/44 - Mestre
4/12/44 - Wiener - Newstadt
4/13/44 - Budapest
4/15/44 - Bucharest
4/16/44 - Brasov (Ploiesti)
4/17/44 - Sofia
4/20/44 - Treviso
4/21/44 - Ploiesti
4/23/44
- Wien
4/24/44 - Ploiesti
4/25/44 - Verese (Italy)
This was to be the final mission of “Maiden USA”
and her crew.
They were shot down over North Arezzo, Italy by FW - 190's.
Bill
Harvey was the bombardier when the B-24 "Maiden USA" was shot down on April 25, 1944. Six crew members were killed, four were taken as POW's.
Bill
bailed out wounded, evaded for a short time but was captured and taken to Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Poland. In January 1945
the POW's were forced marched in a blinding snow storm and then box car-ed to Nurnburg. In April 1945 they were again forced
marched, this time to Moosburg, Germany. The camp (and Bill) were liberated April 29, 1945.
On July 31, 1944, this
B-24 was involved in a crash on take-off with seven crewmembers killed and three surviving. They were assigned to the 722nd
Squadron of the 450th Bomb Group. The crew
was buried on November 18, 1949 in Section E 197 at the Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery.
2/Lt Joseph H. Zeleznock
– Pilot Buried Gettysburg Nat’l Military
Park
2/Lt John F. Millspaugh,
Jr, Copilot
2/Lt Richard H, Pieters,
Bombardier
2/Lt Irwin H. Stockel, Navigator
T/Sgt Emery F, Risch,
Gunner
S/Sgt Joseph Mazias, Crew
Chief
S/Sgt Charles W. Hermany,
Radio Operator
Sgt Bernard P. Steinbruegge
– Gunner Survived
Sgt Edward E. Szymanski
Jr – Gunner Survived
Sgt Melvin Platt –
Gunner
Survived
This B-24, 42-51870, was assigned to the 720th Squadron of the
450th Bomb Group. On April 9, 1945, their aircraft was believed to have been hit by a bomb cluster dropped by the
preceding group. Two members of the crew were buried in Section E 220 at the Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery on December
8, 1945.
Lt Owen N. Wahl,
Pilot – Buried Ft Snelling Nat’l Cemetery
FO Fred
N. McDonald, Copilot – Unknown burial location
Lt Julius
Kunz, Jr, Navigator – Buried in Florence American Cemetery
Lt Edwin
I. Weseman, Bombardier – Buried in Florence American Cemetery
Sgt Billy B. Maxwell,
Gunner
Sgt John J, Rogosz,
Nose Gunner
Cpl Michael
J. Payden – Unknown burial location
Cpl Michael Keuchel,
Radio Operator – Buried in Florence American Cemetery
Cpl Luther T. Snyder,
Engineer – Unknown burial location
Pfc Charles E. Brown,
Tailgunner – Buried in Florence American Cemetery
Pfc John C. Sanford,
Upper Gunner – Unknown burial location
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