Arthur Browngardt, Jr. enlisted in the United States Army on 21 September 1942 at Camp Upton in Yaphank on Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, Army Serial Number (ASN): 12122894 entering the Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet program. Upon graduation Second Lieutenant Browngardt was awarded his pilot silver wings and officer ASN: O-764969. Arthur was then deployed to the South West Pacific Area serving with the 499th Squadron, 345th Bombardment Group, Fifth Air Force when he was Killed in Action.
At 9:30 am on 7 January 1945, Lt Browngardt in Mitchell B-25J-10-NC-43-36030, named the "Sag Harbor Express," was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire while flying a low level mission over Clark Field, Philippines. Trailing smoke and losing altitude, the aircraft clipped the roof of Holy Rosary Cathedral in Angeles City, Luzon, Philippines, before impacting the grounds of the Holy Angel Academy nearby. The entire crew was killed.
Japanese troops billeted in the Holy Angel Academy rushed out and fired volleys at the flaming wreckage. Later the Japanese gathered the bodies and arranged them side-by-side with their personal effects placed atop their chests.
The parish priest of Angeles was allowed to conduct last rites before the Japanese buried the bodies in a shallow grave about 200 yards south of the wreckage.
Postwar the 2nd Lt Browngardt Crew remains were disinterred and re-interred in permanent graves as follows:
2nd Lt. Jack B. Bartlow ASN: O-823789 (Co-Pilot)Ohio
2nd Lt. Howard C. Lebeck ASN: O-704602 (Navigator)Washington
T/Sgt. William H. Noe ASN: 15087318 (Engineer Gunner)Kentucky
T/Sgt. Clarence H. Gilbert ASN: 13063466 (Radio Operator)Tennessee
S/Sgt. Engelhardt Von Hebel ASN: 34408015(Gunner)Florida
At 9:30 am on 7 January 1945, Lt Browngardt in Mitchell B-25J-10-NC-43-36030, named the "Sag Harbor Express," was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire while flying a low level mission over Clark Field, Philippines. Trailing smoke and losing altitude, the aircraft clipped the roof of Holy Rosary Cathedral in Angeles City, Luzon, Philippines, before impacting the grounds of the Holy Angel Academy nearby. The entire crew was killed.
Japanese troops billeted in the Holy Angel Academy rushed out and fired volleys at the flaming wreckage. Later the Japanese gathered the bodies and arranged them side-by-side with their personal effects placed atop their chests.
The parish priest of Angeles was allowed to conduct last rites before the Japanese buried the bodies in a shallow grave about 200 yards south of the wreckage.
Postwar the 2nd Lt Browngardt Crew remains were disinterred and re-interred in permanent graves as follows:
2nd Lt. Jack B. Bartlow ASN: O-823789 (Co-Pilot)Ohio
2nd Lt. Howard C. Lebeck ASN: O-704602 (Navigator)Washington
T/Sgt. William H. Noe ASN: 15087318 (Engineer Gunner)Kentucky
T/Sgt. Clarence H. Gilbert ASN: 13063466 (Radio Operator)Tennessee
S/Sgt. Engelhardt Von Hebel ASN: 34408015(Gunner)Florida
Arthur Browngardt, Jr. enlisted in the United States Army on 21 September 1942 at Camp Upton in Yaphank on Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, Army Serial Number (ASN): 12122894 entering the Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet program. Upon graduation Second Lieutenant Browngardt was awarded his pilot silver wings and officer ASN: O-764969. Arthur was then deployed to the South West Pacific Area serving with the 499th Squadron, 345th Bombardment Group, Fifth Air Force when he was Killed in Action.
At 9:30 am on 7 January 1945, Lt Browngardt in Mitchell B-25J-10-NC-43-36030, named the "Sag Harbor Express," was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire while flying a low level mission over Clark Field, Philippines. Trailing smoke and losing altitude, the aircraft clipped the roof of Holy Rosary Cathedral in Angeles City, Luzon, Philippines, before impacting the grounds of the Holy Angel Academy nearby. The entire crew was killed.
Japanese troops billeted in the Holy Angel Academy rushed out and fired volleys at the flaming wreckage. Later the Japanese gathered the bodies and arranged them side-by-side with their personal effects placed atop their chests.
The parish priest of Angeles was allowed to conduct last rites before the Japanese buried the bodies in a shallow grave about 200 yards south of the wreckage.
Postwar the 2nd Lt Browngardt Crew remains were disinterred and re-interred in permanent graves as follows:
2nd Lt. Jack B. Bartlow ASN: O-823789 (Co-Pilot)Ohio
2nd Lt. Howard C. Lebeck ASN: O-704602 (Navigator)Washington
T/Sgt. William H. Noe ASN: 15087318 (Engineer Gunner)Kentucky
T/Sgt. Clarence H. Gilbert ASN: 13063466 (Radio Operator)Tennessee
S/Sgt. Engelhardt Von Hebel ASN: 34408015(Gunner)Florida
At 9:30 am on 7 January 1945, Lt Browngardt in Mitchell B-25J-10-NC-43-36030, named the "Sag Harbor Express," was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire while flying a low level mission over Clark Field, Philippines. Trailing smoke and losing altitude, the aircraft clipped the roof of Holy Rosary Cathedral in Angeles City, Luzon, Philippines, before impacting the grounds of the Holy Angel Academy nearby. The entire crew was killed.
Japanese troops billeted in the Holy Angel Academy rushed out and fired volleys at the flaming wreckage. Later the Japanese gathered the bodies and arranged them side-by-side with their personal effects placed atop their chests.
The parish priest of Angeles was allowed to conduct last rites before the Japanese buried the bodies in a shallow grave about 200 yards south of the wreckage.
Postwar the 2nd Lt Browngardt Crew remains were disinterred and re-interred in permanent graves as follows:
2nd Lt. Jack B. Bartlow ASN: O-823789 (Co-Pilot)Ohio
2nd Lt. Howard C. Lebeck ASN: O-704602 (Navigator)Washington
T/Sgt. William H. Noe ASN: 15087318 (Engineer Gunner)Kentucky
T/Sgt. Clarence H. Gilbert ASN: 13063466 (Radio Operator)Tennessee
S/Sgt. Engelhardt Von Hebel ASN: 34408015(Gunner)Florida
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