In memory of the
following officers & men
of the 398th.
Heavy Bombardment Group
U.S.A. Air Force
who gave their lives
in a
mid-air collision
over this parish
on
November 21st. 1944.
"Their shall be no more death"
Rev. 21.4.
Two B-24J Liberators, 44-10513 'Old Glory', from the 565th. Bomb Squadron and 42-50452 'Earthquake McGoon', from the 566th. Bomb Squadron, both of the 389th. Bomb Group based at USAAF Station 114 Hethel were involved in a mid-air collision during formation assembly near Carleton Rode, Norfolk on Tuesday 21st. November 1944. Their target was to have been oil plants at Hamburg, Germany.
44-10513 'Old Glory'
37519303 T/Sgt Elden G. Forster, Engineer
Born on 14th. February 1924 at Clallam County, Washington, the son of George William and Charlotte A. Forster, nee Glenn.
Eldon was aged 20. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred at Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas.
19092680 S/Sgt Roger Willard Krouskup, Gunner.
Born on 22nd. October 1921 at Fairmont, Indiana, the son of Traverse B. and Muriel R. Krouskup, nee Rogers.
Enlisted on 9th. June 1942 at Oxnard, California.
Roger died aged 23. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred in Lawn H, Grave 104 at Mountain View Cemetery San Bernardino, California.
34871843 S/Sgt Fred L. Landrum, Gunner.
Born on 29th. March 1925 at Pearl River County, Mississippi, the son of Elmer A. and Ellen S. Landrum.
Enlisted on 27th. August 1943 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
Fred died aged 19. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred at Gipson Cemetery, Pearl River County, Mississippi.
14133777 S/Sgt William Earl Leatherwood, Gunner.
Born on 22nd. February 1921 at Canton, North Carolina, the son of James Thomas Sr. and Mattie Lavonia 'Mattie' Leatherwood, nee Byers.
Enlisted on 21st. October 1942 at Asheville, North Carolina.
William died aged 23. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred at Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesville, Haywood County, North Carolina.
32083731 S/Sgt Harry W. Looy, Tail gunner.
Born on 5th. September 1916 at Newburg, New York, the son of Harry and Carrie E. Looy.
Enlisted on 31st. March 1941 at New York City.
Harry died aged 28. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred at Woodlawn Cemetery Association, New Windsor, Orange County, New York.
13090798 / O-820824 1st. Lt. James Edward Rhine, Pilot.
Born on 10th November 1920 at York County, Pennsylvania, the son of Charles S. and Louise A. Rhine.
Enlisted on 29th. June 1942 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
James died aged 24. He was buried on 22nd. November 1944 in Plot D, Row 3, Grave 62 at Cambridge American Cemetery.
14077238 / O-823697 2nd. Lt. Jack Ellis Ryles, Co-pilot.
Born on 11 September 1922 at Duval County, Florida, the son of John and Fannie Ryles.
Enlisted on 4th. September 1942 at Jacksonville, Florida.
Jack died aged 22. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred at Oaklawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.
32325476 / O-692342 1st. Lt. Joseph Monroe Safier, Navigator.
Born on 18 October 1918 at Bronx County, New York the son of Albert E and Reginia Safier of 11 E 199th. Street, New York.
Enlisted on 27th April 1942 at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York.
Wounded in the eye and leg on 19th. May 1944 over Brunswick, Germany aboard B-24J Liberator 44-40157 Lucky Lass of the 857th. BS, 492nd. BG.
Joseph died aged 26. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred in Plot H, 8233 at Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.
39092072 T/Sgt Harold Miles Thompson, Engineer/top turret gunner.
Born on 15th. November 1912 in Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri, the son of Harvey L. and Jewell E. Thompson, nee Miles.
Hometown, Medford, Jackson County, Oregon.
Enlisted on 10th. March 1942 at Presidio Of Monterey, California.
On 25th. June 1943 while flying from Seething, Norfolk in B-24D Liberator 42-40774 Heaven Can Wait, Harold survived mid-air collision on a training mission.
While on temporary duty to the 9th. Air Force for Operation Tidal Wave, the low level attack on the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti, Harold was flying in B-24D Liberator 42-40744 on 1st. August 1943, when the bomber diverted to Turkey after the mission and Harold and the crew were interned until a release was negotiated.
Harold died aged 32. His remains were not recovered after the collision and he is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery.
O-769158 Lt. William T Martin Jr, Bombardier.
Born on 15th. July 1923 at Suffolk, Virginia.
William survived the collision.
13128349 T/Sgt Peter F. Ferdinand Jr, Radio Operator.
Born 29th. August 1924 at Drifton, Pennsylvania, the son of Peter F. Snr and Anna Ferdinand, nee Birosh.
Enlisted 27th. November 1942 at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
Peter completed 16 x 565 BS combat missions. He bailed out and survived the mid air collision.
He returned to duty and was aboard 42-50612 King Size, which after dropping its bombs, we were hit by approximately fifteen German fighters The aircraft went into a spin, but the pilot was able to get the aircraft under control at about 15,000 ft. At that time the aircraft was on fire and the engines were running away. The aircraft was then hit by fighters again. The plane was still under partial control but heading back to Germany alone. Peter and one other then bailed out through the nose door and saw the aircraft blow up at about 1,000 ft., no other chutes were observed from the aircraft. He evaded capture in the Ardennes and returned to duty on 25th. December 1944.
Peter died at Allentown, Pennsylvania on 11th. April 1998, aged 73.
42-50452 'Earthquake McGoon'
19162410 / O-710437 2nd. Lt. Donald Ross Bremer, Co-pilot.
Born on 6th. February 1921 at Fort Morgan, Colorado, the son of Peter Joseph and Lillian Matilda Bremer, nee Albers
Enlisted on 30th. January 1943 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
Donald died aged 23. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred in Section C, Site 693 at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California.
34872055 S/Sgt Walter Douglas 'Snooks' Brewer, Gunner.
Born on 16th. February 1917 at Surry County, Virginia the son of Luther Milton and Mary Eugenia Brewer, nee Whitmore.
Husband of Lois Dawson Brewer.
Enlisted on 8th. September 1943 at Camp Shelby Mississippi.
Walter died aged 27. He was buried Plot F, Row 4, Grave 37 at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944. He is memorialised at Union Christian Church Cemetery, Surry, Surry County.
36814876 T/Sgt William Michael Bucher, Radio operator.
Born on 4th. January 1925 at Millwaukee, Wisconsin the son of Sophie Bucher.
Enlisted on 5th. June 1943 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
William died aged 19. He was buried in Plot D, Row 1, Grave 62 at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944.
34021953 S/Sgt Carl V. Hughes, Gunner.
Born on 21st. June 1916 in Missouri, the son of Nobel Johnson Hughes (KIA WW I) and Pauline Hughes, nee Cannon.
Husband of Eddie Coleen Hughes, nee O'Neal.
Hometown, Memphis, Tennessee
Enlisted on 18th. February 1941 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
Carl is buried in Plot F, Row 5, Grave 61 at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944.
42041178 S/Sgt Julius 'Julie' Heitler, Gunner.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Paul and Esther Heitler.
Enlisted at New York City.
Julius was buried in Plot E, Row 5, Grave 95 at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944.
33541196 S/Sgt William C. Sawyer, Gunner.
Born on 24th. August 1922 at New Kent County, Virginia, the son of Mary J. Sawyer.
Husband of Gladys Johnson Sawyer, married in 1941.
Enlisted on 21st. October 1943 at Greensboro, North Carolina.
William died aged 22. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred in Section 12, Site 1714 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.
11082353 T/Sgt Stanley Howard Smith, Engineer.
Born on 30th. December 1919 at Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts the son of Jesse Paran Smith and Bertha Louise Smith, nee Swift.
Enlisted on 29th. August 1942 at Boston, Massachusetts.
Stanley died aged . He was buried in Plot D, Row 2, Grave 62 at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944 and is memorialised at Furnace Village Cemetery, Easton, Bristol County.
15130809 / O-768849 2nd. Lt. Niel R Snodgrass, Navigator.
Born on 27th. March 1919 at Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Neil R. and Gertrude Snodgrass, nee Arnold.
Enlisted on 30 June 1942 at Cleveland, Ohio.
Niel died aged 25. He was buried at Cambridge American Cemetery on 22nd. November 1944, and re-interred in Section 12, Site 1273 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.
O-? Alfred V. Brooks, Pilot.
Alfred survived the mid-air collision.
In memory of the
following officers & men
of the 453th.
Heavy Bombardment Group
U.S.A. Air Force
who gave their lives
in a
mid-air collision
over this parish
on
February 9th. 1945.
"For our tomorrow
they gave their today"
On 9th. February 1945, a force of 313 B-24 Liberator's attacked the Rothensee oil plant at Magdeburg, Germany along with any targets of opportunity. Escorted by 151 P-51 Mustangs fighters, they successfully bombed the target using H2X and returned home.
B-24J Liberator 42-50703 'Worry Bird', coded E8-J, and B-24H Liberator 42-95102 ‘Spirit Of Notre Dame‘, coded E8-H, both of the 734th. Bomb Squadron, 453th. Bomb Group, collided in mid-air as they were approaching USAAF Station 144 Old Buckenham.
‘Worry Bird‘ crashed in a fire-ball at Bury's Hall Farm, Carleton Rode, Norfolk, only 100 yards (90 m) short of the runway. ‘Spirit Of Notre Dame‘ managed to recovered and made a safe landing with no casualties. In the resultant crash, all 11 crews members of ‘Worry Bird‘ lost their lives.
O-556606 1st. Lt. Robert Quincy Rollins, Pilot.
Born on 4th. January 1922 at Hartselle, Morgan County, Alabama, the son of William Harvey and Dicie Itera Rollins, nee Shipp.
Robert died, aged 23. He is buried in Johnson Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery
Danville, Morgan County, Alabama
O-2005832 2nd. Lt. Earle Earnest Check, Co-pilot.
Born on 31st. October 1923 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, the son of John and Antoinette Check, nee Printz.
Earl died aged 21. He is buried in Plot F, Row 4, Grave 120 at Cambridge American Cemetery.
O-718979 1st. Lt. Max Eugene Stump, Navigator.
Born 14th. October 1922 in Van Meter, Dallas County, Iowa, the son of William Nelson and Ethel Marie Stump, nee Golden.
Max died, aged 22. He is buried in Plot A, Row 5, Grave 33 at Cambridge American Cemetery.
33599361 T/Sgt John Philip Eubank Jr, Radio operator.
Born on 11th. February 1915 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of John Philip and Ida Eubank, nee Hotz.
Husband of Lois Eubank, nee Trego.
John died, aged 29. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, County Delaware, Pennsylvania.
34037562 T/Sgt Eldridge Washington Amburn Jr, Engineer.
Born on 21st. October 1921 at Ladonia, County Surry, North Carolina, the son of Eldridge Washington and Ila Marie Amburn, nee Hays.
Before enlisting Eldridge was an unskilled furniture manufacture.
Enlisted on 21st. August 1942 at Camp Croft, South Carolina and received training at St. Petersburg, Florida, Sheppard Field, Texas, and Boise, Idaho. He went overseas July 1944.
Eldridge died, aged 23. He is buried in Ladonia Baptist Church Cemetery, Ladonia, Surry County, North Carolina.
32589454 S/Sgt. James Emery Sharp, Nose gunner.
Born on 17th. April 1922 at Ithaca, Tompkins, New York, the son of Emory Samuel and Ruth H. Sharp, nee Corrington.
James died, aged 22. He is buried in the family plot at Willow Glen Cemetery, Dryden, County, Tompkins, New York.
38469484 S/Sgt. Robert Wesley Adkins, Gunner.
Born on 21st. March 1923 at Oklahoma the son of Boyd N. and Maud M. Adkins, nee Wilson.
Husband of Georgia Mae Adkins
Robert died, aged 21. He is buried in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Collinsville, County Tulsa, Oklahoma
35635050 S/Sgt. Elmer Ture Soine, Top turret gunner.
Born on 27th. December 1917 at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the son of Hjalmar 'Elmer' Heino and Augusta V. Soine, nee Hjort.
Elmer was one of the two survivors of the ditching into the North Sea 10 miles (16 km) off North Foreland, Kent of the 734th. BS B-24J Liberator 42-110089 on Friday 11th. August 1944, while on an operation to attack marshalling yards at Strasbourg, France.
Elmer died, aged 27. He was buried on 24th. July 1948 in Section 71, Lot 2, Space 2 at Union Cemetery, Columbus, County Franklin, Ohio.
37381791 S/Sgt Donald Eugene Robertson, Left waist gunner.
Born on 24th. August 1921 at Bayard, Morrill County, Nebraska, the son of John Oliver and Ethel Emma Robertson, nee Wiley.
Inhabitant of Red Oak, Lawrence County, Missouri.
Donald died, aged 23. He is buried in Plot C, Row 3, Grave 54 at Cambridge American Cemetery.
Also memorialized at Red Oak Cemetery, Red Oak, Lawrence County, Missouri.
11081850 S/Sgt. Edward Carl Erker, Right waist gunner.
Born on 30th. May 1921 at Walpole, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, the son of Joseph and Josefa Erker.
Edward died, aged 23. He is buried in Highland Cemetery, Norwood, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
17073731 S/Sgt. William Lee Starbuck, Tail gunner.
Born on 31st. August 1914 at County Schuyler, Missouri, the son of Clarence William and Ola Starbuck, nee Dufur.
Husband of Helen Starbuck, nee McKenzie.
William died, aged 30. He is buried in Queen City Cemetery, Queen City, Schuyler, Missouri.
This memorial is in All Saints church, Carleton Rode, Norfolk.
