Frank Di Palma
Military
Handwritten caption on reverse: '18-9-44 B, 292 Extra.' Second Handwritten caption on reverse: '292/RF. 491BG got shot down, crash landing in Holland, 9/18/44.'
Pilot was Capt. James Kerwin Hunter. Sole survivor was left waist gunner S/Sgt Frank DiPalma. Plane slid into farmhouse and burned. Crash site is between Udenhout and Biezenmortel, at 51 36' 53" N, 5 10' 19" E. Roger Freeman Collection
Associated aircraft identified by Bill Hunter, relative of James Kerwin Hunter, people on board the aircraft when this photo was taken, bomb squadron and mission
Object Number - FRE 8586 - A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40210) of the 491st Bomb Group crashing in Holland on 18 September 1944 during a supply mission as part of...
Assigned to 854BS, 491BG, 8AF USAAF. Crashed near Tilburg in B-24 44-40210 during a supply drop in Operation Market Garden. Sole survivor from crew. Seriously wounded. Evaded capture (EVD)
"Our B-24 Liberator was brought down by enemy fire near the town of Udenhout, Holland. I was discovered leaving the plane by Franciscan brothers and several doctors in that vicinity. They were friendly Hollanders. My mind was blank from 18th September until 27th or 28th September.
The doctors, J.B.M Veraart, G.A.H.M Wessels and J.H.C.M De Volk all informed me that the remainder of the crew had been killed. This was corroborated by a Father Vinckinburg, a catholic priest from the Huize Assissi, where I was secreted by this group."
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 854th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20706934 / O-799024
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Ill Be Seeing You
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 854th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Aircraft crash site
- Known as: Udenhout / Biezenmortel
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: North Pick
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Rochester, New York | 19 June 1919 | Son of Joseph and Concetta Di Palma. |
|
Enlisted |
Rochester, NY | 28 October 1941 | Rochester, New York |
|
Other Forced Landing |
Udenhout, Netherland | 18 September 1944 | Sole survivor of forced landing. |
|
Other Evaded capture |
Biezenmortel, Netherlands | 18 September 1944 | Secreted away by Huize Assissi till liberation. |
|
Died |
2 September 1989 | ||
|
Buried |
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Rochester, Monroe County, NY | 6 September 1989 | Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Rochester, Monroe County, New York |
|
Based |
Metfield | 18 September 1944 | Assigned to 854BS, 491BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 10211