This B-24, 42-40879, “Belle Starr” and crew were assigned to the 425^th Squadron of the 308^th Bomb Group. They were shot down on August 24, 1943 on a bombing raid to Hankow, in Japanese-held China.   While 6 crewmembers evaded capture, on August 26, 1949 the other four members of the crew  were buried in Section E Plot 137-138 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

Major Ellsworth, William W,   Pilot  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/Sgt Hutchinson, Alvin S,   Gunner   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/Sgt Reed, Ray W,  Gunner  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/Sgt Smith, Donald W, Gunner  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery            

Lt Rosenburg, Harry   Navigator      Evaded Capture

Lt Young, Lionel "Jess"   Bombardier   Evaded  Capture   

T/Sgt Gieseke, Bill    Engineer    Evaded Capture but died next day! Buried at the  National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Honolulu, Hawaii

Pannelle, Ray     Gunner      Evaded Capture

1/Lt  Foster, Jack T.    Copilot     Evaded Capture

Uebel, Ed   Photographer       Evaded Capture

After five hours the Liberators approached Hankow and its twin city of Wuchang along the Yangtze River. The bombers lined up on their target, the second of two airfields. Flak started bursting around them, and then the little red light flickered on the pilots’ instrument panel, indicating bombs away. Then came the intercom: “I see fighters taking off!” Off to the right a distant airplane was paralleling their course. Then there was another heading right at them.

The B-24s had been under attack for some time when a popping sound was heard from the inferno in the bomb bay. Flames were streaming from the right wing and engine 3.

After hearing the alarm, the navigator Rosenburg parachuted from the floor escape hatch and the bombardier Young quickly followed him. A fighter made several passes at Gieseke shooting off half of one foot as he floated down.

The two gunners, Pannelle and Smith, were working frantically with tail gunner Ray Reed to extract Hutchinson from inside the ball turret. Uebel stood waiting to jump with the others. Suddenly the right wing broke off, and the bomber went into a tight spiral. Centrifugal force threw Pannelle out one of the open waist windows and Uebel out the other. The other gunners died when Belle Starr hit the ground. Also left aboard was the pilot Ellsworth who was still at the controls.

Chinese guerrillas collected the downed fliers near the village of Hsiung Chian Tung and, carrying Gieseke on an improvised stretcher, managed to evade Japanese searchers. Gieseke died of his injuries a day after the mission.

From the book "China: Up and Down" by 1/Lt Jack T. Foster

This B-25, Mitchell, was shot down on July 20, 1943 over the Monte Corvina Airdrome. They were assigned to the 379^th Squadron of the 310^th Bomb Group. They were buried on December 13, 1949 in Plot 230 at the Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery.

 1/Lt Robert L. Harrop, Pilot  -  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/Lt Carl N. Speidel, Copilot  -  Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

T/Sgt Gilbert E. Henderson, Bombardier  -  Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/Sgt Joseph L. Beaty, Gunner  -  Unknown burial location

Sgt Chester Barton, Gunner  -  Unknown burial location.

This paragraph was taken from the monthly summary report written at the time.

“Just as there are days that we long remember, there are also those that we like to forget as quickly as possible. July 20 was one of those days for our squadron suffered its only casualty of the month when one of our planes went down over Monte Corvino airdrome. The crew is missing.”

This B-26 Marauder, 41-17793, and crew were assigned to the 438^th Squadron of the 319^th Bomb Group. On July 15, 1949 the crew was buried in Section E Site 89 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

1/Lt Dark, Glen L Jr             

S/Sgt Holgate, Lawrence L   

T/Sgt Lutie, Frank X             

1/Lt Nix, Jack W, Pilot          

2/Lt Rodman, Emmett L        

S/Sgt Wolfe, Paul E      

It was shot down by fighters over El Aouina Air Field in Tunis on February 13th 1943.

This B-26 Marauder, 41-35071, “Frances Joan,” and crew were assigned to the 441st Squadron of the 320^th Bomb Group. They were shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire 7 miles southeast of Orvieto, Italy. Two crewmembers were buried on November 18, 1949 in Section E Plot 198 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

1/LT Louis Valls, Pilot         Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT Woodrow W. Owens, Copilot        Florence American Cemetery

2/LT Benjamin E. Sylvester, Bombardier       Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/LT John B. Williams, Navigator          Florence American Cemetery
S/Sgt Blake Chilton, Engineer             POW (Returned To Duty)
S/Sgt Gilbert S. Corona, Radio Operator        POW
S/Sgt Walter E. Herbert, Gunner           Florence American Cemetery

Eyewitness report:

1/LT Louis Valls, Pilot, was flying fourth position in first flight, and while on the bomb run, his airplane was apparently hit by flak.

The airplane peeled off and started down in a steep bank to the left. One landing wheel was seen to come down and one parachute was seen to emerge. When last seen the plane was approximately seven (7) miles SE of Orvieto at 42° 38' N, 20° 14' E.

This B-25 Mitchell, 41-29775, and crew were assigned to the 447^th Squadron of the 321^st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down on February 17, 1944 during a shuttle mission between Vincenzo and Gaudo, Italy. On August 12, 1949 five crewmembers were buried in Section E Site 103-104 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

Cpl Allender, Darrel W,                                                                              

S/Sgt Cooper, Raymond C                                                                          

Capt Demay, Kenneth C                                                                             

Sgt Kaiser, Jacob Jr,                                                                                

Cpl Lee, James P         

Sgt Pearson, Stanley O.          KIA                                             

Squadron Daily Report:

Three of our planes 775, 546, and 413 were lost while on

shuttle service between Vincenzo and Gaudo. As yet no

detailed information has been secured. Lt. DeMay in 775

has not been found. Lt. Bryant in 546 crashed just east

of our runway at Vincenzo near the 57 Station Hospital.

He had turned back from the flight to Gaudo when instrument

conditions developed and had come in for a landing but may

have been cut out by a P-38. He pulled up, mushing along

trying to gain flying speed and then spun in. It is probable

that one engine cut out. Two men, Sgts. Harris and Keech were

alive and taken to the hospital. Sgt. Keech died soon after

but Sgt. Harris who has a fractured skull seems to have a chance

to pull through. Lt. Toltzman in 413 exploded in air and crashed

into Lake Lesina north of Foggia. All aboard were killed. Capt.

Olson was also on this shuttle flight. He had trouble when his

plane iced up over the mountains. His plane went into a spin

but he was able to pull it out and return to Vincenzo.

This B-25, Mitchell, and crew were assigned to the 447^th Squadron of the 321^st Bomb Group. The plane was shot down on April 14, 1944 near the target area by heavy flak. Four of the six crewmembers were buried on December 8, 1949 in Section E Plot 218-219 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

Cpl Ellis, Francis R,  Gunner      

S/Sgt Phelps, Jack L,  Gunner    

Sgt Smith, Daniel R,  Gunner     

2/Lt Wingrove, Allen E, Bombardier

2/Lt Dalley, Fenton M.  Pilot         Florence American Cemetery

2/Lt Kelley, James E.  Copilot

447 BS War Diary: 8 of our ships participated in a raid on Viterbo A/D with Lt Stocking leading the flight. Good coverage indicated and hits on or near 3 hangars. Also hits in barracks area. Lt Dalley and crew were shot down near target by heavy flak.

This B-25 Mitchell and crew were assigned to the 447^th Squadron of the 321^st Bomb Group. On December 2, 1943 the crew was shot down by flak near Chieti, Italy. There were no survivors. Three crewmembers were buried on January 11, 1950 in Section E Plot 260-261 at the Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery.

1/Lt Williams, William T., Pilot    Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

2/Lt Drury, Alfred C. Copilot       Unknown Burial Location

S/Sgt Brown, Charles O., Jr. Bombardier   Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

S/Sgt Godwin, Charles D. Engineer          Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/Sgt Boza, Elmer V. Radio Operator S/Sgt      Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

Sgt Kazar, William F. Gunner               Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

December 2, 1943

447th BS War Diary: 12 of our planes took off to bomb a road bridge near CHIETI, Italy. The flak was so terrific that casualties resulted. One of our planes, piloted by 1st Lt. W.T. Williams who was on his 52nd mission, was shot down. Other members of the crew were: 2nd Lt. A.C. Drury, S/Sgt. C.O. Brown, S/Sgt. C.D. Goodwin, S/Sgt. E.V. Boza, and S/Sgt. W.F. Kazar. S/Sgt. James M. Batteiger, engineer of the plane directly in front of Lt. Williams saw a direct hit on the right engine. He watched it fall to about 3000 ft, still going down and out of control. 448th Sq. also lost a plane, which exploded in mid-air. This ship was flown by no other than the Squadron C.O., Major Bates. Two other planes, piloted by Lt. Fallone and Lt. Jahrhaus, each landed with only one engine operating. Both planes had the oil lines of one of their engines shot out and Lt. Jahrhaus’ plane also had a flat tire. Lt. Broyles had the tail assembly of his plane shot up. Lt. Beeson had the rudder of his plane hit.