Henry J. Nykamp.
Waist Gunner · 409th Squadron · Of Hunterdon County, NJ.
The man.
Flew 35 missions on the George Bridgeman crew, 409th Bomb Sqdn., 93rd Bomb Group, from Aug. 1, 1944 to Jan. 6, 1945. Scariest mission was Nov. 21, 1944 to Hamburg - battle damage to fuel tanks forced a landing at a fighter base in Liege, Belgium due to insufficient fuel to cross the Channel.
Service record.
Missions flown.
Before and after.
Born Nov. 15, 1923 in Hunterdon County, NJ on a farm. Reported for service July 3, 1943 at Fort Dix, NJ. Basic training at Greensboro; Armorer School at Lowry Field; gunnery training at Buckingham Air Field. Crew assembled at Westover Field; crew training at Chatham Field. Overseas via northern route from Mitchell Field, Long Island to Valle, Wales on July 3, 1944.
Discharged Oct. 13, 1945 as staff sergeant. Received Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters. Returned to States for Gunnery Instructor School; assigned to Tyndall Field. Married, one son, two daughters. Worked in retail meat business. Active in veterans organizations.