Allen Arthur Brill

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-55905.png UPL 55905 1st Lt Allen A. Brill, 91BG.

USAAF Photo

Object Number - UPL 55905 - 1st Lt Allen A. Brill, 91BG.

Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Killed in Action (KIA) on 4-Mar-43 in B-17 41-24464 'Excalibur', 91BG/324BS while serving as Pilot. Aircraft was ditched into North Sea 40 miles west of Texel Island, Holland after repeated fighter attacks. Plane broke in two. 7 crewmembers were picked up by a British minesweeper.



Awards: DSC, AM (2OLC), PH.



DSC Award Citation:



"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Allen Brill (ASN: 0-442336), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 324th Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, in action while on a bombing mission over enemy occupied continental Europe. The airplane in which Lieutenant Brill was serving was attacked by a force of enemy fighter aircraft and was forced down on the North Sea after a long and gallant fight. In utter disregard for his own safety Lieutenant Brill remained at his post and aided other crew members to leave the airplane; in so doing, he sacrificed his own chance for escape. By his devotion to duty and complete disregard for his personal welfare Lieutenant Brill helped to save the lives of other crew members, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the armed forces of the United States.



General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 31 (May 22, 1943)"

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • 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-793974
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 7009151
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37088931
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
First Lieutenant R.F. Brubaker, a bombardier of the 91st Bomb Group inside the nose gun position of his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Our Gang", using a Norden bombsight 24 June 1943. Image via BL Davies. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'ETO HQ 43 4321 Pearson 24 June 1943. 1st Lt. R.F. Brubaker, Clearwater, FLA., Bombardier of "Our Gang", a Flying Fortress operating from England, at his Norden Bombsight, just before the ship took off for a bombing mission over enemy territory.' Was passed for publ
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14044021 / O-660325
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Excalibur
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

22 November 1916 Son of Arthur and Lena Beatrice [Brittendall] Brill.

Enlisted

15 August 1941 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Died

4 March 1943 Killed when aircraft was sshot down by fighters and crashed into the North Sea 40 miles west of Texel Island, Holland. Killed in Action (KIA)

Other

Commemorated

Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery.

Based

4 March 1943 Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorHattie
Changes
Sources

From Rufus Youngblood's wartime scrapbook

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Jun-2015. Added decorations and Commemorted event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records; Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Added KIA event, added A/C model letter, unit association and crew position to Summary Biography per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I p.87 by Bishop and Hey

Allen Arthur Brill: Gallery (7 items)