Crew Roster · Personal File
Paul W. Kleyman
Waist Gunner · 328th Squadron
Sgt. Paul W. Kleyman served as left waist gunner aboard B-24M 44-50697, 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. Next of kin: Mrs. Stella A. Kleyman (mother), 470 38th Jefferson St, Bellaire, Ohio.
Reported Missing in Action following the loss of his aircraft over the Dutch coast on 5 April 1945.
Killed in ActionPASSED 05 APR 1945
Sortie Log
2 CATALOGUED SORTIES
25 MAR 1945 — 05 APR 1945
25 MAR 1945 — 05 APR 1945
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
№ 913
25 MAR 1945
BuckenO/D
44-50579
№ 928
05 APR 1945
Bayreuth
B-24M serial 44-50697, assigned to the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, departed Hardwick on 5 April 1945 on a bombing mission to Bayreuth. Eyewitness F/O John H. Van Zandt, flying as co-pilot in ship 157-L of the same squadron, observed the aircraft crossing the Dutch coast at approximately 400–600 feet altitude on the return leg. The aircraft was being engaged by 20mm and 40mm flak fire. The aircraft initiated a steep bank to the left, apparently attempting to evade the fire. Van Zandt's engineer, S/Sgt Ernest H. Fleming, reported that the plane completed a 180-degree turn and was observed inverted at the end of the maneuver. Last known position was 5130N 0330E at 1204 hours. Nine crew members were aboard; all were reported Missing in Action as of the date of the report, 9 April 1945.
44-50697
§ Interment
Cemetery
Ardennes American Cemetery
Location
D 8 53