“Old Hickory”

B-24J serial number 42-73495, assigned to the 330th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, departed AAF 104 (Hardwick) on 8 April 1944 on a mission to Brunswick, Germany. The aircraft was last seen at approximately 53°25'N 05°46'E over the Island of Schokland in the Ijsselmeer at around 1520–1535 hours.

Over the target the aircraft experienced a bomb hang-up. Pulling away from formation to close the bomb bay doors, the bomb went through one of the bomb bay doors, blowing it off. The aircraft never regained formation and was straggling thereafter.

Just before reaching the Zuider Zee, fighters attacked the aircraft. Near Zwolle, Pilot Joseph A. Buland Jr. and his crew came under fire from a German Fw 190A-8 piloted by Lieutenant Karl-Heinz Willius of JG 26/2. Hit by cannon fire, the plane started smoking, began a slow turn to the right while losing altitude, and within seconds exploded, falling in four distinct burning pieces. Seven parachutes in total were observed — five before the explosion and two after.

German records (KUH 24 / KU 1380) confirm the B-24 was downed by a fighter on 8 April 1944 at 1520 hours at the Island of Schokland. Six crew members were captured and transferred to Dulag Luft on 12–15 April 1944; three crew members (Tucker, Sloan, and a third) were killed and interred at the cemetery of Vollenhove, Overijssel, on 14 April 1944. The loss was documented as MACR 3764.

1st Lt. Leland H. Walzel flew nine missions aboard Old Hickory before his death on 6 March 1944, a month before the aircraft was lost. His brother recalled that she was "tough like her name."