42-110104.Over Lorient, France.

1st Lt. Albert B. Cool served as pilot aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. He was last seen piloting the aircraft. His next of kin was his father, Mr. Philip Cool, of 501 East Broadway, Covington, Ohio. His individual casualty questionnaire records that on June 4, 1944, he announced flak to the crew and conducted an oxygen check — everyone reported O.K. — shortly before the plane was blown up by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient. He did not bail out. The crew had begun their tour of missions on April 8, 1944, and had completed approximately 29 missions. Lt. Cool is assumed to have been killed instantly when the aircraft exploded. Only two parachutes were observed leaving the stricken plane — neither belonging to him. He is presumed killed in action.

Flight Officer Theodore Juraschek served as co-pilot aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. He was last seen in the co-pilot's seat. His next of kin was his father, Mr. Francis Juraschek, of Box 136 R.F.D. #7, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On June 4, 1944, the aircraft was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient, France. F/O Juraschek did not bail out and is assumed to have been killed instantly. The plane was blown into pieces. Only two parachutes were observed from the stricken aircraft, neither belonging to him.

1st Lt. John F. Sykes served as navigator or bombardier aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. He was last seen in the nose of the aircraft. His next of kin was his father, Mr. Lewis B. Sykes, of Three Weaver Street, Clearfield, Pennsylvania. On June 4, 1944, the aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient, France and exploded. Lt. Sykes did not bail out. His individual casualty questionnaire notes that he was wearing a parachute at the time but the plane was blown into pieces. He is assumed to have been killed instantly. Only two parachutes were observed from the stricken aircraft — one belonging to S/Sgt. Rudy and the other to a member of Lt. Jennings' crew. Lt. Sykes is presumed killed in action.

S/Sgt. James F. Bundy served as flight engineer and upper turret gunner aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. He was last seen in the upper turret. His next of kin was his father, Mr. Fred F. Bundy, of R.F.D. #2, Gibson, Nebraska. On June 4, 1944, the aircraft was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient, France. S/Sgt. Bundy did not bail out and is assumed to have been killed instantly when the plane exploded or blown out without a parachute. Only two parachutes were observed from the stricken aircraft — neither belonging to him.

Sgt. Carl H. Lewis served as a gunner aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. According to his individual casualty questionnaire, he was last seen under the flight deck just in front of the bomb bay. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. Lela S. Lewis, of Racine, Ohio. On June 4, 1944, the aircraft was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient, France. Sgt. Lewis did not bail out and is assumed to have been killed instantly when the plane exploded or blown out without a parachute. Only two parachutes were observed from the stricken aircraft — neither belonging to him.

T/Sgt. John J. Merlino served as radio operator aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. Teresa Merlino, of 711 Kansas Street, San Francisco, California. On June 4, 1944, the aircraft was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient, France. T/Sgt. Merlino did not bail out and is assumed to have been killed instantly when the plane exploded. Only two parachutes were observed from the aircraft.

S/Sgt. Thomas C. Sornsin served as a waist gunner aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. His next of kin was his brother, Mr. Kenneth F. Sornsin, of 1123 4th Avenue North, Fargo, North Dakota. Multiple individual casualty questionnaires from this MACR appear to have been completed by Sornsin, based on the consistent first-person account of a right waist gunner announcing flak to the crew and watching S/Sgt. Austin standing alongside the right waist window. The crew had completed a final oxygen check — all O.K. — shortly before the aircraft was destroyed. On June 4, 1944, the aircraft was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient, France. S/Sgt. Sornsin did not bail out and is assumed to have been killed instantly when the plane exploded.

S/Sgt. John R. Rudy served as tail gunner aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs. Anna W. Rudy, of 820 Lancaster Avenue, York, Pennsylvania. On June 4, 1944, when the aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient, the tail turret was blown free of the aircraft with Rudy inside. He bailed out of the turret after a near miss with his opened parachute, coming down near Vannes, France. He was not injured. Sgt. Rudy evaded capture by the enemy and returned to the Zone of Interior a few months after being shot down. His parachute was one of the two observed leaving the stricken aircraft. He had completed approximately 31 missions.