Killed in Action (KIA) 6 June 1944



-- 8TH A.F. - 3RD BOMB. DIVISION - 1ST MISSION - 8TH AF, 3RD BD, 93RD CBW, 34TH BG (MISSION #10)



-- Takeoff at 0234 hours, flew in position 1 - 3 in 2nd Squadron (squadrons assembled and circled over northern Ireland waiting for last RAF aircraft to return over channel before commencing bomb run)



-- The mission was to soften and disrupt the German coastal defenses and cut off resupply routes just prior to the Allied invasion. 10/10 cloud cover totally obscured assigned bridges and highway choke points and forced the Group’s planes to return to base with full bomb loads. Although the assigned targets were relatively close, the flight duration was exceptionally long to avoid the Normandy invasion area.



-- Navigators in secondary squadrons (not lead squadron) for this D-Day bomb mission determined as surplus, and Misery Agent navigator 1LT Robert H. Gross sent back to unit and did not fly the mission (secondary squadron aircraft to simply follow the lead squadron aircraft across the channel, down along the French coast, visually identify target and return to base; oral history provided by Bob Gross.)



-- Weather conditions and "fog of war" resulted in FTR (failed to return) / crash