Top turret gunner on "Firebird, a B-24J-140-CO Liberator, tail number #42-110167, shot down on November 26, 1944 during a raid by the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group against the Misburg oil refinery. The 491st Group was awarded a DUC for persevering on the raid despite losing half of its bombers. These losses occurred when their USAF P51 fighter escort was lured away and the bomber tream was set upon by an estimated 100 German fighters. "Firebird," crashed at Bredenbeck which is a little south west of Hanover, Germany. The sole survivor of this aircraft's shoot down was the right waist gunner SSgt Frank Verbovsky. He became a POW. Left waist gunner SSgt Thaddeus C Jarosz , though seriously injured, initially survived the crash but died 21 days later at the German Air Force Hospital in Frankfurt A.M. Members of the crew who died along with Jarsocz were Radio operator/gunner TSgt Elmer Bemis, Top turret gunner TSgt Vernon Brock, Pilot 1Lt Daniel Budd, Tail gunner SSgt Thomas Crane, Navigator 1Lt Norman Hirsch, Co-pilot 2Lt Noel Oury, Bombardier 1Lt William F Phelps and 2Lt Floyd Walker. Walker's position on the aircraft is unknown but he is variously listed as being a navigator and a pilot. Having a back up navigator or a third pilot would be highly unusual even on a lead aircraft. Bemis, Brock, Budd, Hirsch and Oury share a common grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
Top turret gunner on "Firebird, a B-24J-140-CO Liberator, tail number #42-110167, shot down on November 26, 1944 during a raid by the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group against the Misburg oil refinery. The 491st Group was awarded a DUC for persevering on the raid despite losing half of its bombers. These losses occurred when their USAF P51 fighter escort was lured away and the bomber tream was set upon by an estimated 100 German fighters. "Firebird," crashed at Bredenbeck which is a little south west of Hanover, Germany. The sole survivor of this aircraft's shoot down was the right waist gunner SSgt Frank Verbovsky. He became a POW. Left waist gunner SSgt Thaddeus C Jarosz , though seriously injured, initially survived the crash but died 21 days later at the German Air Force Hospital in Frankfurt A.M. Members of the crew who died along with Jarsocz were Radio operator/gunner TSgt Elmer Bemis, Top turret gunner TSgt Vernon Brock, Pilot 1Lt Daniel Budd, Tail gunner SSgt Thomas Crane, Navigator 1Lt Norman Hirsch, Co-pilot 2Lt Noel Oury, Bombardier 1Lt William F Phelps and 2Lt Floyd Walker. Walker's position on the aircraft is unknown but he is variously listed as being a navigator and a pilot. Having a back up navigator or a third pilot would be highly unusual even on a lead aircraft. Bemis, Brock, Budd, Hirsch and Oury share a common grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
Inscription
TSGT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
AR United States Army
Family Members
Other Records
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
