Henry Sherman Karger
Military ROLL OF HONOURAssociated to Henry Karger.
Killed in Action (KIA) 26 March 1945
March 25, 1945
3rd Air Division units, including the 34BG were recalled shortly after take-off due bad weather and the increasing possibility of adverse conditions upon return. Upon take-off one 34 BG plane crashed near the base killing the crew of 9 airmen, according to Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary.
B-17G #44-8605 B/H Homesick Angel crashed shortly after take-off for the cancelled mission.
(5 photos in the 26 March 1945 file.)
KIA BENNETT LESTER S JR (P) 1 LT 18 O-767466
KIA KARGER HENRY S (CP) 2 LT 18 O-720082 (listed as dying 3-26-45)
KIA BERTINO LOUIS J (N) 2 LT 18 O-1312870
KIA LEWMAN KENNETH W (Tog) SGT 18 39341658
KIA DILLEY ROGER R (R) T/SGT 18 32924461
KIA PICKETT OCKO P (E) T/SGT 18 36876916
KIA VERMAN RALPH C (BG) SGT 18 16275224
KIA JOHNSON WILLIAM T (WG) S/SGT 18 15140404
KIA KORDAS CHESTER J (TG) SGT 18 20630647
BENNETT LESTER S JR is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, A-1-26.
JOHNSON WILLIAM T is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, A-6-16.
From the files of Walter Sturdivan, quoted from MM, September 2004, p. 11. "Lt. Bennett took off in aircraft B-17G #44-8605 at 0601 hours on an operational mission. At 0615 the aircraft was seen to start into a spin and pull out. The tail section broke at Station 5 and the plane spun into the ground and exploded. The pilot is believed to have executed a violent maneuver to avoid collision with another aircraft, inadvertently stalling and starting into a spin. Due to the extremely low altitude, a sharp pullout was attempted causing the aircraft to break in two. The Yellow Squadron aircraft plummeted to earth between the bomb dump and the dispersed planes on the airdrome. After striking the ground, all but one of the bombs exploded. Ordinance personnel later removed said bomb. When the Fire Equipment came on scene there was little that could be done except cover the burning spot fires in the area. The fire fighters returned three times during the day to cover an engine with foam. The entire crew perished."
http://valortovictory.tripod.com/b17s/44-8605.htm
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Homesick Angel : Happy Warrior
- Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: RAF Mendlesham
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Died |
26 March 1945 | ||
Born |
Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA | ||
Buried |
Raytown, Jackson County, Missouri, USA | Mount Carmel Cemetery |
Revisions
Added Middle name per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 94771501.
Updated Born event and Added Buried event per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 94771501.
SOURCE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94771501/henry-sherman-karger
Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / H. Province, Roll of Honor