John L Albers

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Shot down 6 October 1944 in B-17 #42-97275 'Rodger, the Dodger'. Died 10/7/44, Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 9522



The “B” Group, Flying High Group in the 4 “B” Combat Wing, peeled off to take its position for the bomb run. A minute later, at 1207 hours, enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group to 2 aircraft. The fighters then returned and in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. No exact information of the attack is available because no aircraft of the group returned. Estimated is that a number from 25-70 enemy aircraft, either Me-109s or FW-190s attacked the group.



SSgt Albers’ left arm was shattered by 20mm explosives from the enemy aircraft. He managed to bail out. On the ground, he was beaten and shot in the right arm by civilians. He was taken to a hospital near Perleberg, where his left arm was amputated the same evening. The next day he was transported to Neurrupin Prison Hospital, but he died of blood loss on the trip.



Silver Star, Air Medal w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, ACM, EAME w/campaign star

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

42-102684 Sweet Chariot
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sweet Chariot
  • Unit: 549th Bomb Squadron 551st Bomb Squadron 385th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Thorobred /satan’s mate
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Golden Goose
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Roger the Dodger
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Quittin Time
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Plainville, Connecticut, USA 25 December 1916

Enlisted

2 April 1943 New York City, New York

Died

7 October 1944 Blood loss while en route to Nueruppin Hospital.

Buried

16 October 1944 Plot B, Row 25, Grave 16 Was originally buried in Nueruppin on the date given, but was moved sometime after the war.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 6 October 1944

Revisions

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Contributordecwriter
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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

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Contributormvandemark
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Updated from bio

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Contributormvandemark
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Updated from biography

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Contributormvandemark
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385th database. Wargraves database

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Contributormvandemark
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385th database

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 9522 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database