Harold Jack Flaugher
Military ROLL OF HONOURAdded photo
Flaugher was Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-24 "Rhapsody In Junk" 41-28733 of 458th Bomb Group / 754th Bomb Squadron when it was shot down on the 18 June 1944 mission to Fassberg, Germany.
He was the sole casualty, and the 9 other crew members on board were made prisoners. Flaugher was found dead on the ground. Flaugher was seen dead by his fellow crew members in Eckenforde, Germany, where his body was held by the Germans at the Navy base there.
He was buried in Germany in a church cemetery for three years and transferred to Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium. He was from German descent and had lived in Bloomdale, Ohio. In high school, he played football, basketball and ran track. Gifted with a strong voice, he sang in the church choir. He worked in his father's Flaugher's Garage before enlisting in March 1943.
He had last been seen with his parachute on, asking to be pushed out of the plane. German and crew members' statements differ, the latter thinking Flaugher was killed on the ground, as they saw his chest was crushed, and he had a small discoloration on his right temple. But their friend had no broken bones nor blood on him. His clothes were intact with all the buttons buttoned. Injuries were consistent with a man who could have hit the side of the plane when it turned on descent, killing him instantly.
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: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-860086
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19116172 and O-761871
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38367896
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39693927
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34509333
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Rhapsody in Junk
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 18 June 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
9 April 1923 | the son of Wilbur Clyde Flaugher Sr and Alta Flaugher | |
Enlisted |
6 March 1943 | ||
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
18 June 1944 | Was seen dead by his fellow crew members in the city where these had been brought after their arrest. He had last been seen with his parachute on, asking to be pushed out of the plane. German and crew members' statements differ, the latter thinking Flaugher was killed on the ground, as they saw his chest was broken, no other bones broken, a large discoloration on the right temple, like he had been struck by a blunt instrument or object...like a rifle butt... | |
Buried |
21 June 1944 | Initially buried in the military cemetery, Husumstrasse, Schleswig | |
Buried |
Re-interred after the war at the Ardennes American Cemetery - Plot C - Row 7 - Grave 24 | ||
Born |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
Additional information sent through to the American Air Museum by Thomas F Jeffers' daughter, Marilyn.
Correct name is Harold Jack FLAUGHER > Harold J Flaugher (user : ED-BB)
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- MACR 5908
- Page 275 of the book LIBERATORS OVER EUROPE by Mackay, Bailey & Scorza, D790G458;
- 458bg. crew picture in Newell's crew in 754th BS
WWII Enlistment records
MACR 5908
ABMC website
Marilyn Jeffers Walton's book "Rhapsody In Junk" (Authorhouse, April 2007)
MACR 5908 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database