William Harth Birth: 1921 Columbia Richland County South Carolina, USA Death: Aug. 1, 1943, Romania From FAG# 47380828 Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. William H. Harth, Jr., killed during World War II, has now been accounted for. In the summer of 1943, Harth was a bombardier assigned to the 329th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), which was known as “The Traveling Circus.” He served on a B-24D aircraft, nicknamed “Hell’s Angels,” when he was participating in a historic mission, which was the first large-scale, low-altitude attack by U.S. heavy bomber aircraft on Ploesti, Romania, code-named Operation TIDAL WAVE. On Aug. 1, 1943, as Harth’s aircraft approached Ploesti, it was hit by German anti-aircraft fire. Harth was killed when the aircraft crashed. Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services. Harth’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at an American Battle Monuments Commission site along with the others who are missing from the World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. ----------------------------------------------------------- Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William H. Harth Jr. DFC KIA Squadron: 329TH 93BOMB GROUP, Hometown:Columbia, S.C Service# O-731509 Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal. Purple heart Pilot 1st/Lt. Roy C. Harms DFC KIA Target: Concordia-Vega refineries (Ploesi) Missing Air Crew Report Details USAAF MACR#: Date Lost: 1-AUG-43 Serial Number:42-40781 Aircraft Model B-24D Aircraft Letter: U Aircraft Name: HELLS ANGELS Location: crashed near the target 10 crew 9 MIA/KIA 1POW . Lt. Harth lost his life in "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 93rd attacks the Concordia-Vega oil refinery. The 93rd earns Presidential Unit Citation, all of the crews receive the Distinguished Flying Cross. Lt. Harth appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy. His body was never recovered. Hit by flack in the approach to target a of opportunity ( White IV) bomb bay area was set on fire. Large part of the left tail fin and rudder were shot away. The LWG and Engineer were severely wounded. The aircraft was seen banking to the right turning before the target in a climb. The Engineer bailed out successfully from 300 Ft AGL. Thereafter 42-40781 was seen stalling and then crashed near Chitorani. The crew was still training in the US in May 1943 when sent to Scotland and then to Libya . HELLS ANGELS Crew 1Lt Roy C. Harms Pilot 2Lt. Albert W Stahl Navigator 2nd/Lt. William Harth Jr Bombardier 2Lt. Earl Ferguson Co Pilot T/Sgt. Michael Doka Gunner TSgt Ralph E.J.Richardson Radio Op TSgt John Shufritz Gunner SSgt Arnold M HolenGunner SSgt Arnold M HolenGunner SSgt Arnold M HolenGunner SSgt Winfield V. Long Tail Gunner Inscription: 2 LT 329 BOMB SQ 93 BOMB GP(H) S C Note: Entered the service from South Carolina. Burial: Florence American Cemetery and Memorial Florence Città Metropolitana di Firenze Toscana, Italy Plot: Tablets of the Missing