The Man Behind the Name
Served as armorer gunner with 93rd Bomb Group, Hardwick, England. On a mission in which one engine went out over France and the plane was hit over the target, bailed out and landed in Switzerland while eight crewmates landed in Austria. Interned in Switzerland; escaped Dec. 1, 1944 to France. Notable missions included the first raid to Berlin (March 6, 1944) and raid to Friedrichshafen (March 16, 1944).
Service record.
Missions flown.
The missions below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.
Before and after.
Born Oct. 9, 1921 in Waterloo, IA. Entered USAAF. Stationed at Buckley Field, Tyndall Field, Richmond, and Wendover before assignment to Hardwick.
Discharged Oct. 25, 1945 as staff sergeant. Received Air Medal and two Battle Stars. Graduated from University of Northern Iowa in 1947. Industrial engineer for 38 years; retired 1986. Married Ruth Taplin in 1947; two sons, one grandson.