This B-25 Mitchell, 41-13180, and crew were assigned to the 487^th Squadron of the 340^th Bomb Group. On April 6, 1944 the plane was crippled by flak over the target, Perugia Aerodrome in central Italy, and was last seen spiraling earthward with 4 chutes. On January 13, 1950 three crewmembers were buried in Section E Site 226-227 of the Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery.

2/Lt Gerald U. Ashmore, Pilot    Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery
Sgt Julius W. Ikner, Gunner       Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery
Sgt Jesse S. Klein, Tailgunner    Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/Lt Hamilton E. Finney, Copilot           Returned to his Squadron

2/Lt George L. Simpson, Bombardier     Returned to his Squadron

Cpl Bernard A. Burton                          Returned to his Squadron

The copilot 2nd t. Hamilton E. Finney, the bombardier 2nd Lt. George L. Simpson and the radio gunner Cpl. Bernard A. Burton all bailed out and returned to their squadron.

The aircraft, 41-13180, flew its first mission on March 27, 1944 and was shot down a week later on April 6, 1944. It is presumed this was originally a 12th Bomb Group  plane that was left when the 12th left for the CBI and was a replacement for the planes lost on March 22, 1944 when Vesuvious blew her top and destroyed all of the 340th BG planes on the ground.

The volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius on March 22nd, 1944 caused more physical damage to the 340th bombardment group than the German air raid was to inflict two months later at Alesan Air Field on the island of Corsica. Indeed, 88 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers were covered in hot ash which burned off the fabric control surfaces and glazed the Plexiglas. Planes were tipped onto their tails from the weight of the ash. All 88 B-25s were completely totaled.
 

This B-17 Flying Fortress, 42-97082, “Mission Mistress,” and crew were assigned to the 410^th Squadron of the 94^th Bomb Group. On January 6, 1945 'Mission Mistress' crashed on take off at the end of the main runway after the number four engine failed just at the point of take-off.  Five of the nine man crew onboard lost their lives in the tragic crash and the explosions that followed. On April 30, 1949 S/Sgt Tate and Sgt Von Bokel were buried in Section E Site 33 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

410th BS crew onboard 'Mission Mistress' January 6th 1945:

S/Sgt James F. Tate, Gunner & Engineer    Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery
Sgt Raymond J. Von Bokel, Radio Operator  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

1/Lt Jack W. Collins, Pilot             Cambridge American Cemetery
2/Lt Gordon F. Henry, Navigator     Cambridge American Cemetery

     *Lt. Henry was from Lt. Robert Hall's crew (Heavenly Comrade).

Sgt Clinton R. Hallman Jr, Bombardier      Cambridge American Cemetery

2/Lt Robert J. Doran, Co-Pilot.
Sgt Ony M. Carrico, Gunner

Sgt Nicholas A. Urda, Waist gunner.
Sgt Cecil H. Schermerhorn, Tail Gunner.

Missing from the crew on this mission due to illness was 2/Lt Julius Wishner who was the navigator for this crew. After WWII Lt. Wishner became a Professor at the University of Pensylvania but sadly passed away in 1993.

This B-17 Flying Fortress, 42-5786, “Whizzer II,” and crew were assigned to the 840^th Squadron of the 483^rd Bomb Group. On April 15, 1944 “Whizzer II” was shot down by flak over Nis, Yugoslavia. On January 11, 1950 three crewmembers were buried in Section E Site 221-222 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

S/Sgt Cieslak, John T,   Radio Operator   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery        

Sgt Pierce, Harold J,   Gunner               Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery  

S/Sgt Toutant, John C,   Engineer       Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery      

Preston, James O,   Pilot      Leesville Cemetery in Carroll County Ohi

Johnston, Harry L,   Copilot

Lindholm, Gordon G,   Navigator    Fort Snelling National Cemetery

Gresham, Jesse D,   Bombardier    Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

Cooper, James E,   Tailgunner

Cline, Albert H,   Gunner

Brown, Jack Jr,   Gunner      Florence National Cemetery        

The plane received a direct flak hit, was engulfed in flames and the right wing came off. An alert 483rd photographer captured this moment, providing one of the most horrific photos of World War II.  B-17 42-5786 was a war-weary that had served with the 99th Bomb Group. This was the first crew and plane lost in combat by the 483rd. No parachutes were observed, but only nine bodies were recovered from the plane. Members of the 840th Squadron who were consulted indicated there were no survivors.
 

The target was the marshalling yards at Nis, Yugoslavia.  41 aircraft were on the mission.  They missed the Initial Point and their bombs (106 tons of 500 pounder general purpose) overshot the target. 

This B-24 Liberator, 42-40402, “Sandman,” and crew were assigned to the 345^th Squadron of the 98^th Bomb Group. The “Sandman” was shot down on December 19, 1943 with no survivors. On December 9, 1949 seven of the ten crewmembers were buried in a group grave in Section E Plot 224 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

S/Sgt Freeze, S A, Ass’t Engineer             

S/Sgt Hundley, Forrest D, Ass’t Radio Operator         

1/Lt Napierala, Stanley W, Navigator      

2/Lt Smyser, William M, Copilot              

1/Lt Viers, John W, Pilot                            

S/Sgt Washburn, Curtis C, Gunner                                

T/Sgt Hagberg, Theodore N, Engineer     

T/Sgt Jacobson, Paul L., Bombardier         Florence American Cemetery

T/Sgt Marshman, William O., Radio Operator   Florence American Cemetery

S/Sgt Van Heyingen, Francis L, Gunner

The Viers' Crew went aboard "The Sandman" the first time Sunday 19 December 1943. Returning from the mission destination of the Messerschmitt Plant at Augsburg,Germany enemy fighters were encountered. “Sandman” went down in flames with none of the ten crewmen surviving. The crash site was located in the Italian Alps near Suedtirol and the Alta Badia Valley.