Date: 1944 Apr 08/08			A/C Type: B-24 J  Liberator		SN: 42-73495		Code:		A/C Nickname: Old Hickory
File: 470		Airforce: USAAF		Sqn/Unit: 93 BG - 330 BS			Mission/Raid: Brunswick
1	Pilot	1Lt. Joseph .A. Buland Jr.     POW					9	TG	S/Sgt Joseph F. McDermott    POW
2	Co-pilot	2Lt. William Lansill       POW					10
3	Nav.	2Lt. Donald T. Huemoeller     POW					11
4	RO	T/Sgt. Gregoro Oliva              POW					12
5	Nose G	Sgt. George E. Sloan       KIA in turret					13
6	Eng/TTG	T/Sgt Morris La Verne     KIA in air (burned)					14
7	LWG	S/Sgt John E. Colwell        POW					15
8	RWG	S/Sgt. Trenton T. Tucker     KIA, fell dead					16
Shot down by Fw-190 (Oblt. Karl Willius) on return from Brunswick. Exploded in the air at 15:20h. Fell in parts on the ground at Schokland, just east of the island, north of the road to Ens. Crew of nine.

Gunner Sgt. George E. Sloan was hit by a shell of the German fighter and was killed instantly. Also Sgt. Morris La Verne is believed to be killed in the aircraft when he was trapped by fire. Sgt. Tucker's parachute did not open or was hit by burning debris. The men were buried in Vollenhove (unidentified) on 15 April 1944, gr. 609, 610 & 611.

Our file on Vollenhove cemetery:  http://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/976.html

Pilot Lt. Joseph Buland, co-pilot William Lansill and Sgt. Gregorio Oliva parachuted last or were thrown clear in the explosion. They came down in the NOP-Polder and were arrested by the Germans from Schokland in prospector-camp Enservaart (NW of Ens).

Navigator Lt. Donald T. Huemoeller (Hümüller), Sgt. John E. Colwell and Sgt. Joe F. McDermott jumped a bit earlier and were arrested 16:00h at Steenwijk. In his post-war questionaire, Sgt. Colwell saw his aircraft flew on in direction Lake IJsselmeer (Zuyder Sea) and believed it crashed 'In Zeider Zee' (see below).




















Sources:

- MACR

- Website PATS, his file:  http://www.teunispats.nl/t3569.htm







© ZZairwar (Zuyder Zee Air War)






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