Karl David Breakey
Military ROLL OF HONOURJ. O. A. Photo Archives
"Queen of Hearts"
Karl Breakey was Left Waist Gunner on B-24 “Pregnant Peg”, Serial 42-50328 (44th BG/506th BS), one of the Squadron’s 8 Liberators sent to bomb the La Perth airfield in Romilly, France on 8 August 1944. Just after take-off, the ship lost one of its engines. Pilot Jacobs decided to abort the mission and tried to return to the base. While flying the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to get back to Shipdham but as a result of turning into the dead engine, it spun in and crashed with a full load of bombs and exploded at 11:55 hours alongside the road at Birds Corner, Yaxham near Dereham, Norfolk, 4km northeast of the base. The load comprised 46 x 100lb fragmentation bombs, half of which exploded in the crash and others in the ensuing fire. All 10 crew members lost their lives in the incident and are recorded as DOI (Died of Injuries).
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39680958
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Armorer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18162062 at enlistment, then O-719113
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17151881 at enlistment, then O-716788
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16162293
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania | 4 January 1922 | (NARA's WWII Enlistment record has his birth year as "1920"...) |
Enlisted |
4 January 1943 | Erie County, Pennsylvania | |
Other Killed in Action |
8 August 1944 | Officially reported as Died Of Injuries (DOI) in the crash and explosion after take-off of B-24 # 42-50328 at Yaxham, England | |
Johnsonburg, Elk County, Pennsylvania | |||
Buried |
Initially buried at the Cambridge Temporary Cemetery in Croton, England | ||
Buried |
Karl Breakey rests at the permanent Cambridge Cemetery, Plot E, Row 4, Grave 53 |
Revisions
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card
WWII Army and Air Corps Casualties
ABMC website
Combat Chronology Supplement p. 296 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia