1LT John Harold Allen was KIA on 22 DEC 1943 when his B-24, #42-7554, nick named; "Tail End Charlie" crashed into a cemetery in the Dutch village of Mirns, Holland. Here is an interview from eye witnesses who saw his B-24 crash: http://www.heritageleague.org/brian/54.pdf

On US Veterans Day, 11 NOV 2015 a commemoration & memorial ceremony was held at the crash site for the crew of: US B-24 #42-7554, 445th BG , 702nd BS at the crash site in Mirns, Friesland, the Netherlands On 22 DEC 1943, 7 of the 10 crew perished on that day. Piloted by 1Lt John H. Allen (KIA). There is a significant amount of information from this event. This is a direct web link to the photos of the event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-24_liberator_42-7554/albums YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVpI3Tf-GWc

1Lt John H. Allen, Pilot of B-24 from 8th AF, 445th BG, 702nd BS stationed at Tibenham airfield, Norlfolk, England KIA= 22 DEC 1943 after his B-24 came under attack by German fighters. His B-24 crashed into the cemetery in Mirns, Netherlands. 7 Crew perished. 3 survived by bailing out seconds before the crash. 1 crew (co-pilot 2Lt Bevnis evaded capture for 473 days. 2 other crew, 2Lt Joseph F. Gill, Navigator & S/Sgt Harry L. Henry, waist gunner were sent to German/Nazi POW camps.

Remains of American B-24 ~ #42-7554 “Tail End Charlie” ~ crashed into the cemetery in Mirns, Netherlands 22 DEC 1943 The story behind this ‘tea spoon holder’ is remarkable. In 2011 Alexander Tuinhout & Douwe Drijver of the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation (S.M.A.M.F.) traveled to New Zealand. They visited some Dutch Frisian emigrants who had moved to New Zealand in the 1950s. In New Zealand, 20.000 km. (12, 430 miles) from their home (the Netherlands/Holland), they visited an elderly lady from Friesland. She told them that she came from the village of Mirns. She was asked her if she remembered the crash of an American bomber in her childhood and she said yes she did. She went into another room and took this little spoon-holder out of a closet. She told them that it is made from the aluminum of the American B-24 that crashed into the cemetery in Mirns.

1LT John H. Allen of 445th BG - 702nd BS - some of his aircrew/squadron members.

445TH Bombardment Group (Heavy) Original artwork did not have tail markings, Those were added by the 445th's unit historian - Mike Simpson

8th Air Force

445th Bomb Group Memorial, Tibenham Aifield, Norfolk.