WW2 Fallen - Medal of Honor hero and B-17 navigator Walter Truemper

Lt. Walter Truemper was the navigator on the last flight of the B-17 Ten Horsepower.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7869648
http://www.351st.org/px/ 

Walter Edward Truemper never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 31, 1918 in Illinois. His parents Henry and Friedericke were both born in Hesse, Germany. They immigrated to the United States in 1882. His father worked as a cigar store owner. Walter had six older brothers, one older sister, one younger brother, and one younger sister. Walter completed four years of college and found work as a clerk.

He enlisted in the army on June 23, 1942. He went to flight school and was trained to be a navigator. He was commissioned a second lieutenant on August 26, 1943 and was sent to England as a replacement aircrew member in December 1943. He was assigned to the 510th Bombardment Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group, 8th Army Air Force, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses.

On February 20, 1944, the 351st BG flew its 81st mission to bomb Leipzig. Lt. Truemper was the navigator on B-17 Ten Horsepower. The bomber was attacked head-on by two Me 109s as it was approaching the target. A canon shell exploded in the cockpit, killing the co-pilot and knocking out the pilot. The bomber fell into a spiraling dive, pinning the other men to the sides of the plane with centrifugal force. After a drop of 15,000 feet, the top turret gunner dragged himself into the cockpit and, standing between the slumped pilots, managed to pull back the yokes and level out the plane.

Navigator Walter Truemper took over the flying and was soon joined by ball turret gunner Archibald Mathies, who had a few hours of flying experience. The bombardier had bailed, but despite the gaping hole in the cockpit, the plane was otherwise undamaged. The pilot-less crew decided to fly back to England. Sgt. Mathies did most of the flying, but with the freezing cold wind coming from head on, Lt Truemper spelled him off. They had to fly standing between the pilot seats because the co-pilot seat was directly in the path of the wind and the pilot could not be moved due to his grave injuries.

Ten Horsepower made it back to base at Polebrook, England and radioed for help in landing. The first attempt went poorly as the inexperienced Sgt. Mathies, further impaired by fatigue and wind exposure, was waived off for being too erratic. The tower ordered the crew to jump, so the other five bailed out before Mathies came in for his second attempt. The base sent up a bomber to help guide his landing. His second attempt was no better than the first so the tower told Mathies to point the plane to the sea, put the plane on autopilot, and then jump. Mathies and Truemper would not leave their wounded skipper so they tried one last attempt to land the plane. It was not successful. They were both killed and the pilot only survived the crash for an hour before expiring.

Mathies and Truemper were both awarded the Medal of Honor. Here is Lt. Truemper's citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy in connection with a bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe on 20 February 1944. 

The aircraft on which 2d Lt. Truemper was serving as navigator was attacked by a squadron of enemy fighters with the result that the co-pilot was killed outright, the pilot wounded and rendered unconscious, the radio operator wounded and the plane severely damaged. Nevertheless, 2d Lt. Truemper and other members of the crew managed to right the plane and fly it back to their home station, where they contacted the control tower and reported the situation. 

2d Lt. Truemper and the flight engineer volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving 2d Lt. Truemper and the engineer aboard. After observing the distressed aircraft from another plane, 2d Lt. Truemper's commanding officer decided the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism, 2d Lt. Truemper and the engineer replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be moved and that they would not desert him. They were then told to attempt a landing. After two unsuccessful efforts their plane crashed into an open field in a third attempt to land. 2d Lt. Truemper, the engineer, and the wounded pilot were killed.

His grave is at Saint Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Montgomery, Illinois.

Thank you Lt. Truemper for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Walter.

Last year on this date I profiled Avenger airman Ordien Herr. You can read about Ordien here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - First Medal of Honor hero of WW2 Alexander Nininger, Philippine Scouts + Bob Feller

Lt. Alexander Nininger was posthumously awarded the first Medal of Honor during WW2.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30361248/alexander-ramsey-nininger
https://hiveminer.com/Tags/nininger 

Alexander "Sandy" Ramsey Nininger, Jr. never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 30, 1918 in Georgia. His parents Alexander and Gertrude were born in Minnesota and New York, respectively. His grandfather had the same name and served as an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War. His father worked as a moving picture theater manager in Florida. Alexander had an older half-brother and an older sister. By 1940 Alexander was attending the US Military Academy in West Point, New York. Upon graduation in 1941 he requested being assigned to the Philippines. Prior to leaving he bought a phonograph and some symphony records. He particularly like Tchaikovsky. Despite being a West Point army officer, Sandy had an interest in classical music, theater, poetry, and drawing.

Sandy became a lieutenant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts. By early January 1942, the American forces were setting up a defensive position on the Bataan peninsula. On  January 12, 1942 Lt. Nininger volunteered to switch over to Company K. His new company came under heavy enemy attack. Lt. Nininger was killed leading a counter-attack against the enemy.

General Douglas MacArthur recommended Lt. Nininger for the Medal of Honor. It was the first one bestowed during World War 2.

His Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Abucay, Bataan, Philippine Islands, on 12 January 1942. This officer, though assigned to another company not then engaged in combat, voluntarily attached himself to Company K, same regiment, while that unit was being attacked by enemy force superior in firepower. 

Enemy snipers in trees and foxholes had stopped a counterattack to regain part of position. In hand-to-hand fighting which followed, 2d Lt. Nininger repeatedly forced his way to and into the hostile position. Though exposed to heavy enemy fire, he continued to attack with rifle and hand grenades and succeeded in destroying several enemy groups in foxholes and enemy snipers. Although wounded 3 times, he continued his attacks until he was killed after pushing alone far within the enemy position. 

When his body was found after recapture of the position, 1 enemy officer and 2 enemy soldiers lay dead around him.

General MacArthur claims this action gave the Americans the time needed to set up the defense of Corregidor and postponed the Japanese victory.

His cenotaph grave is at Arlington National Cemetery. A barracks at West Point bears his name.

Thank you Lt. Nininger for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Alexander.

BOB FELLER
On the same day as Alexander Nininger was born, future Major League Baseball hall-of-famer Bob Feller was born in Iowa. A pitching phenom from an early age, he starting pitching for the Cleveland Indians at age 17. 

After six years of all-star level play, Bob tried to volunteer as a pilot right after Pearl Harbor. He failed the hearing test so he joined the navy where he served as chief petty officer on the battleship USS Alabama and earned eight battle stars. He also found time to pitch for numerous Navy baseball teams.

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/sports/baseball/17reflect.html

After his four year stint in the Navy, he played ten more seasons with the Indians, setting many records and played on the winning 1948 World Series team. He was a first ballot Hall Of Fame selectee. He died in 2010.

Last year on this date I profiled Frederick Toll, 30th Infantry Division. You can read about Frederick here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - C-47 flyer Kenneth Halverson, 27th AIr Transport Group, frozen in ice

Lt. Kenneth Halverson flew C-47s in the 27th Air Transport Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12627285/kenneth-vernon-halverson
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/237

Kenneth Vernon Halverson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 28, 1918 in South Dakota. His parents Herb and Emma were born in Minnesota and South Dakota, respectively. His father worked as a telephone exchange wire chief and later as a road building truck driver. He died in 1938. Kenneth had two older sisters, one older brother, and one younger brother. By 1940 Kenneth had completed three years of high school and was living with his mother and brothers while working as a clerk for the Union County Highway Department.

He enlisted in the army on January 27, 1943. He married Betty Jean Phelps on November 14, 1943. He became a second lieutenant and served in the 27th Air Transport Group, 302nd Transport Wing which was equipped with C-47 Skytrains.

On November 7, 1944, Lt Halverson was a crewman, and possibly the pilot, on a C-47 Skytrain on a flight from England to Marseille. Weather was poor that day and the plane crashed into Mount Tournette. The wreckage fell under a waterfall where it was frozen in ice until the next spring. The remains of the crew of four or five, including Lt. Halverson, were recovered at that time.

His grave is at Elk Point Cemetery in Elk Point, South Dakota. His widow married one of Kenneth's brothers, a marriage that lasted nearly 50 years, and died in 2008.

In 2012 his daughter left the following remembrance at the public website findagrave.com: 

Although I never met you, I have mourned, cried, prayed and can't wait til the day I can meet you in heaven.Mom died 2 years ago and your brothers died too. I am your only living relative and I am 67 now so it should be soon we will be together...I love you Dad.

Thank you Lt. Halverson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Kenneth.

Last year on this date I profiled triple Purple Heart hero Russell Jones. You can read about Russell here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - Bataan Death March survivor Glen Schlingerman

Pvt. Glen Schlingerman never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 27, 1918 in Wisconsin. His father, Paul, was born in Minnesota, and his mother, Paulina, was born in Wisconsin. His father worked as an operator of “motion pitctures” and passed away in 1939. By 1940, Glen seems to have taken up the family business and was working at a movie theater as well. He had completed four years of high school and had one older sister. 


Wisconsin newspapers of late Summer, 1940 paint a picture of a typical 21 year old American boy. In August, he was involved in a car crash that flipped his car six times – where three of the six involved in the crash died. In September of 1940 it was reported that he was elected president of the Green Bay Mike And Key club –  a bi weekly meeting for those interested in amateur radio as a hobby. However, just one month later, The Green Bay Press Gazette reported his number, 120, had been chosen in the draft.


He was inducted January 28, 1941.


“He was inducted into the U.S. Army and sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training. He was assigned to A Company, 192nd Tank Battalion which had been a Wisconsin National Guard tank company. He lived through the Japanese attack on Clark Airfield and fought in some of the first tank battles of World War II involving American tanks. He became a Prisoner of War on April 9, 1942 and took part in the Bataan Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan POW Camps. 

He died at Cabanatuan and was buried in the camp cemetery.”


His mother was informed that he was a POW in March of 1943, even though he had passed a full six months earlier. By July of 1943 word had reached his mother of his death.


His grave was initally at the POW Camp Cabanatuan  in the camp cemetery. After the war, his mother requested his remains be reburied at Allouez Catholic Cemetery. His final burial took place on October 20, 1949.


As an aside, there is an excellent book on the “Great Raid” that took place to rescue the POWs at Camp Cabanatuan in January, 1945. Ghost Soldiers, by Hampton Sides. 


Thank you Glen for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Pvt. Glen Schlingerman.
______
This profile was researched and written by Chris Prough - "Father of eight children, just celebrated his 30th anniversary with his lovely wife Susanne. Lives in Mount Pleasant, IA, where there are no mountains and the jury is still out on the whole "pleasant" thing. Lover of history since a child. I believe in this endeavor as my own great uncle, Harold Ozmun, will be featured December 15. Many thanks to Don for affording me the privilege to help him out."

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100


Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - Distinguished Flying Cross hero and P-38 pilot John Ford, West Point graduate

Captain John C. Ford flew P-38s for the 364th Fighter Squadron.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/311
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56289752/john-c.-ford

John C. Ford never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 26, 1918 in Arkansas. His parents Cornelius and Linnie were also both born in Arkansas. His father worked as a farmer and later as a US mail carrier. John had one older brother and a younger sister. His older brother graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1937 and retired as a rear admiral. John attended the US Military Academy and graduated in 1942.

On December 13, 1942, while stationed in Texas for flight training, he married Mary Frances Morrison. During 1943 he trained other pilots on how to fly P-38 Lightnings. 

Lt. Ford arrived in England in January 1944 and was shortly thereafter promoted to captain where he served in the 384th Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force. Its primary mission was to escort American bombers on missions to mainland Europe. He was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. I was not able to find out the details. He did shoot down 2.5 enemy planes while serving in his unit.

On July 8, 1944 Captain Ford took off from his base in Honington, England. He was flying a P-38 that had just had an engine replaced. The engine failed and Captain Ford crashed a few miles away.

His grave is at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, England. I don't know what happened to his widow.

Thank you Captain Ford for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for John.

Last year on this date I profiled Battle of Midway hero and torpedo bomber pilot Edwin Mushinski. You can read about Edwin here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - B-29 gunner Jack Dangerfield

Cpl. Jack Dangerfield flew his final mission for the 45th Bombardment Squadron after fighting had ceased.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64925448/john-david-dangerfield
https://www.amazon.com/Home-Comforts-Bombardment-B-29-40-BW-Superfortress/dp/B07GZBLS3V 

John David "Jack" Dangerfield never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 25, 1918 in Utah. His parents John and Jessie were also both born in Utah. His father worked as a metal worker and died in 1924. John had two brothers. He completed four years of high school and married English born Florence Smith on April 20, 1942. He worked as a chemical analyst.

He was drafted into the army on May 5, 1943. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a corporal in the 45th Bombardment Squadron, 40th Bombardment Group, 20th Air Force, which was equipped with B-29 Superfortresses. He was sent to the Pacific Theater on July 27, 1945. By that point the 45th BS was operating from Tinian. The unit flew low level flights where it dropped incendiary bombs during night raids over Japanese urban areas and dropped mines in Japanese shipping lanes. It flew it's last bombing mission on August 10, 1945.

On August 30, 1945 Corporal Dangerfield volunteered to fly in the B-29 The Flying Fort, with a mission to drop much needed supplies for American POWs near Yawata, Japan.  Approaching Japan from the Bungo Channel in heavy fog and rain, Cpl. Dangerfield's plane was coming in too low and clipped the top of a ridge near Mt. Sobo. The plane crashed and burst into flames. All eleven crewmen perished.

His grave is at the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah. His widow never remarried and died in 2011.

Thank you Corporal Dangerfield for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Jack.

Corporal Dangerfield's story is also told at https://www.fold3.com/page/91298170-john-d-dangerfield/stories. It is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project, Utah pilot.

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 gunner Frank Schwagel and General Nathan Bedford Forrest III, who was killed on the same mission, using a strange flying formation never used before or since. You can read about Frank here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - B-17 tail gunner Francis Zambie

Sgt. Francis Zambie was a B-17 ball turret gunner. He looks kind of tall for this role.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13103325/francis-a.-zambie 

Francis A. Zambie never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 22, 1918 in Arkansas. His parents Joseph and Eggia were both born in Syria and came to America in 1898 and 1908, respectively. His father owned a restaurant. Francis had two older brothers and two older sisters, . By 1940 Francis had completed four years of high school and was working as a checker while living with his parents.

He was drafted into the army on October 21, 1941 and volunteered for the Army Air Forces where he became a sergeant and ball turret gunner in the 526th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force, which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses.

On May 7, 1944 Sgt. Zambie took off for his very first combat mission. Best guess is that his plane had the name Blues in the Night. The target was Berlin. Sgt. Zambie's plane was downed by flak. Only the bombardier safely parachuted out. The rest of the crew was killed.

His grave is at St.Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Helena, Arkansas. If someone is able to take a photo of the grave and send it to me, I would be happy to add it to this profile.

Thank you Sgt. Zambie for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Francis.

Last year on this date I profiled PBY flight engineer Arvo Ranta. You can read about Arvo here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - B-24 pilot Leroy Madson

B-24 pilot Leroy Madson served in the 478th Bombardment Group
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63032100/leroy-g-madson

Leroy G Madson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 20, 1918 in Ogden, Utah. His parents Hans and Alice were also both born in Utah. His father worked as a sales superintendent. Leroy had two younger brothers. By 1940 his parents had divorced and his mother was a schoolteacher. Leroy had completed two years of college and was working as an electrical engineer.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corp on March 15, 1941.

LeRoy was serving as the pilot of a B-24 in the 847th Bomber Squadron, 478 Bomber Group. On June 20, 1944, only two weeks after the D-Day landing at Normandy, the B-24 he was piloting was hit by flak over their target in France and exploded over the English Channel. Another pilot counted seven parachutes bailing out before the explosion. Ten airmen were killed in the plane and two who parachuted became prisoners of war.

His mother received a letter from a sergeant who was a member of the crew of the B-24. He wrote that they were near the French Coast on their way back to England when the plane was struck and burst into flames. Captain Madson ordered his men to bail out and the sergeant was one of the two men who landed safely.

Captain Madson was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Not two months later, the family received news that his younger brother, Gordon, had been taken prisoner. Lt. Gordon Madson was in the 552nd Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, a pilot of a B-24 when he was shot down by flak on August 16, 1944. He was taken prisoner and sent to Stalag Luft 1 in Barth-Vogelsang, where he stayed for 9 months. He was liberated when the Russian Army entered the southern part of Germany and arrived home in late June of 1945.

Interestingly, of the two that survived the plane crash that took Captain Madson, ball turret gunner, Sgt Arthur Martinsen survived the war and died in 1974. The tail gunner, Sgt Bernard Breen, lived to 1990.

Capt Madson’s grave is at Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, UT

Thank you Leroy G. Madson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Leroy.
______
This profile was researched and written by Chris Prough - "Father of eight children, just celebrated his 30th anniversary with his lovely wife Susanne. Lives in Mount Pleasant, IA, where there are no mountains and the jury is still out on the whole "pleasant" thing. Lover of history since a child. I believe in this endeavor as my own great uncle, Harold Ozmun, will be featured December 15. Many thanks to Don for affording me the privilege to help him out."

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100

Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 "Big Week" Fallen - B-24 engineer Alton Elkin

Alton Elkin was the engineer on the B-24 Big Fat Butterfly.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107637369/alton-m-elkin
http://www.b24bestweb.com/bigfatbutterfly.htm 

Alton M. Elkin never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 18, 1918 in Texas. His parents Michael and Mattie were born in Kentucky and Texas, respectively. His father worked as an odd jobs laborer and later as an ice company truck driver. Alton had one older sister. By 1940 Alton had completed four years of high school and was working as a gas station attendant while living at home.

He was drafted into the army on April 15, 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a tech sergeant and engineer in the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-24 Liberators.

8th Air Force planners decided that its bombers would make a concentrated effort to bomb German aircraft industry and draw out Luftwaffe fighters to shoot down experienced pilots who could not be easily replaced. It would take place from February 20 to February 25, 1944 and would be called Operation Argument. It became better known as "Big Week". Three thousand five hundred sorties dropping 10,000 tons of bombs in six days. Of greater impact was the loss of 355 German fighter planes and nearly 100 pilots.

Sgt. Elkin was part of the crew in Big Fat Butterfly. Its target on February 20, 1944 was Brunswick. After successfully completing its bombing run, his plane lost one engine and fell behind the others.  It was presumed lost. German officials reported the death of Sgt. Elkin and the radio man. The fate of the rest of the crew remained unknown until the end of the war when it was determined that they all perished onboard.

His grave is at Eastview Memorial Park in Vernon, Texas

Thank you Sgt. Elkin for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Alton.

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 bombardier Robert Greenwell. You can read about Robert here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - B-26 bombardier William Williamson + WW2's favorite pin-up girl

Lt. William Williamson was B-26 Marauder bombardier.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33503791/william-mertens-williamson
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Martin_B-26_Marauder_operators 

William Mertens Williamson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

He was born on October 17, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His parents William and Agnes were also both born in Pennsylvania. His paternal grandparents were from Scotland and his maternal grandparents were from Belgium. His father worked as a coal miner. William had one older sister, one younger brother, and three younger sisters. He married Virginia Ethel Pubar on March 17, 1937. By 1940 William had completed four years of high school and moved to Detroit, Michigan where he worked as an inspector.

He enlisted in the army on January 24, 1940. He divorced Ethel in May. He volunteered to serve in the Army Air Corps and qualified for flight school where he was trained to be a bombardier. He became a 2nd lieutenant in the 398th Bombardment Squadron, 21st Bombardment Group, which was equipped with B-26 Marauders. Training included a period of time based at MacDill Field in Florida.

He remarried Virginia on April 25, 1942. They had two sons. 

On May 31, 1943 Lt. Williamson and his crew where practicing instrument flying with a hooded cockpit during a heavy electrical rain storm. His plane crashed near Bradentown, Florida. All five men on board were killed.

His grave is at Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley, Michigan. His widow remarried after the war and died in 1991.

Thank you Lt. Williamson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for William.

RITA HAYWORTH

Born on the same day as William Williamson was Margarita Cansino in New York. Raised in a family of dancers, she performed on Broadway at the age of five. Her father moved the family to California hoping her dancing could be featured in films but it never panned out during her childhood. She got some minor roles in the 1930s but her career did not take off until she changed her name to Rita Hayworth (her mother's maiden name). 

Hayworth became one of the most popular movie actresses of the 1940s and became the top pin-up girl among WW2 GIs.

https://movieposters.ha.com/itm/movie-posters/miscellaneous/rita-hayworth-by-bob-landry-columbia-1941-pinup-photo-11-x-14-/a/7060-83347.s

Although Fred Astaire is better known for partnering with Ginger Rogers, he admitted that Rita was his favorite dance partner in the movies. Hayworth died in 1987.

Last year on this date I profiled B-17 ball turret gunner William Whitt. You can read about William here.

On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!

I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org