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Benjamin O. Byers

Co-Pilot · 329th Squadron
HometownIL

Flight Officer Benjamin O. Byers served as co-pilot aboard B-24D 42-41004 in the 329th Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. He was reported missing in action on November 13, 1943 during the bombing mission to Bremen, Germany. He is among the ten crew members listed on MACR 2182, compiled on January 2, 1944. The cause of the aircraft's loss was listed as unknown.

His serial number is recorded as T-190737 in one source and T-190757 in another. No additional details about his fate were recorded in the MACR beyond his listing as missing in action.

Missing in ActionPASSED 13 NOV 1943

Sortie Log

1 CATALOGUED SORTIE
13 NOV 1943

The sorties 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.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
№ 130
13 NOV 1943
Bremen
B-24D serial 42-41004 was on a mission to Bremen on 13 November 1943 when it went missing. The aircraft departed from AAF Station 104 and was part of the 329th Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. According to the eyewitness statement, Lt. Ramsey was still in formation at 1118 hours as observed by Captain Russell D. Demont (O-666252), pilot of A/C 869Q. The aircraft was last seen a few minutes before 1130 hours at position 5347N 0755E by Lt. Leonard D. Lange, pilot of A/C 809N, banking off to the right, presumably to abort. The cause of loss was listed as unknown. Weather at the time was 9/10 to 10/10 cloud cover. The aircraft carried four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 engines (serial numbers 42-86725, 42-86748, 42-86740, and 42-86592) and was armed with twelve .50 caliber M-2 machine guns along with sidearms and small arms. The MACR was compiled by 1st Lt. George L. Meisel on 2 January 1944 and subsequently reviewed by Eighth Air Force headquarters. Sources: MACR 2182 and MACR 2183 (both documents cover this aircraft on this mission).
The Urgin Virgin42-41004
§ Interment
Cemetery
Cambridge American Cemetery