Vernon Henry William Pochardt
MilitaryAssigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down by fighters before the IP on a mission to Oschersleben on 22-Feb-44 in B-17 41-24490 'Jack the Ripper. ' Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 2640
Vernon H. Pochardt, age 85, died Barrett, MN, March 2, 2008
Reported by the Marshall Independent Obituary:
He was born 3-May-22, in Dumont to Berthold and Louise (Reiman) Pochardt.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force as part of the 91st Bomb Group, 324th Bomb Squadron. Vern flew in 11 combat missions as an airplane armor gunner before being taken prisoner while bombing over Germany. He was held prisoner for one and one-half years before being released from prison camp on 16-Apr-45. He was honorably discharged on 5-Oct-45, as a staff sergeant and was awarded the EAME Silver Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal and Bronze Cluster.
Awards: SS, AM (OLC), PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-803516
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
![A bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group plan their next raid in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-C, serial number 41-24490) nicknamed "Jack the Ripper". Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 1 Feb 1943' [stamp] and '246367' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Some of the airmen from America who are taking part in the daily raids on enemy occupied territory and Germany in their giant high altitude aircraft the 'Flying Fortress' capable of carrying a 11,000 [this has been amended by censor](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379144.jpg.webp?itok=KA1Lm_m-)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jack The Ripper
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Starbuck, Minnesota, USA | 3 May 1922 | Son of Bertholt Ludwig and Louise Catherine Wilhelmina [Riemann] Pochardt. |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Snelling, MN | 9 December 1942 | Fort Snelling, Minnesota |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Tychowo, Poland | 22 February 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV. |
|
Died |
Barrett, MN | 2 March 2008 | |
|
Buried |
Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery Hoffman, Grant County, MN | 5 March 2008 | Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery Hoffman, Grant County, Minnesota |
|
Based |
Bassingbourn | 22 February 1944 | Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2640 / MACR 2640, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database