Joined Sqd 6/17/43. DS/Bengahzi 6/26/43. Killed in Action (KIA) 8/16/43 (Foggia). Pilot: Shannon. On August 16, 1943, was shot down in 'Natchez-Belle' ac # 42-40373 on a mission to Foggia, IT while temporarily assigned to the 9th AAC. Four minutes after the target, the plane was attacked by FW 190s. The plane caught fire while gunners Smith, Rothrock, Vogel and Slattery together shot down 9 enemy aircraft. Finally pilot Shannon had to give the bail out order. 7 crew members became Prisoner of War (POW)s and 3 were Killed in Action (KIA). Shannon describes Hersh's heroism on p. 113 of Lundy's book.