Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene DFC MIA/KIA
Home: St. Paul, Minnesota.
Service ID: 17080319.
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain Wallace C. Taylor POW
Target: White IV- Ploesti
Mission: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40655
Aircraft Model B-24D-
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:THE VULGAR VIRGIN
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: AA Crew 10 9 KIA 1 POW
Flown by Capt Wallace C. Taylor and crew Briefed to fly the lead position of the 5th wave attacking White IV at Ploesti, Rumania on Aug 1, 1943. Took a direct flack hit in the nose while approaching target and set on fire. Pilot gave bail out signal and climbed the aircraft, leveled out. P,CPL,E, WG believed to have bailed out though only the pilot survived with serious burns. The aircraft is believed to have crashed at Tatarani South of Ploesti.
Sgt. Duchene was a gunner in the 98th Bomb Group when he was killed. His name appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy, his body was never recovered.
Sgt. Duchene lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 98th destroys the Romanian oil refinery. Sgt. Duchene was one of the Pyramiders most decorated enlisted men including 7AM Oak Leaf clusters he was awarded his 2nd Distinguished flying cross for his valor on this mission.
Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN
1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator
1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer
T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner
Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner
~
PRESS RELEASE | Aug. 22, 2022
Airman Accounted For From World War II (Duchene, D.)
WASHINGTON – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene, 19, killed during World War II, was accounted for July 8, 2022.
In the summer of 1943, Duchene was assigned to the 343rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Duchene was serving as the tail gunner was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed during Operation TIDAL WAVE, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. His remains were not identified following the war. The remains that could not be identified were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.
~
This is a Memorial Site. View Actual burial here
~
Remains of US airman to be buried at Ft. Snelling, 79 years after crash
Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene of St. Paul was a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber that was shot down during a World War II mission over oil fields in Romania.
Author: Dana Thiede
Published: 11:43 AM CDT September 22, 2022
Updated: 12:01 PM CDT September 22, 2022
FORT SNELLING, Minn. — A Minnesota soldier will finally be home and at rest, nearly 80 years after being shot down over Romania in the midst of World War II.
U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Oct. 5. A funeral service will precede the burial. His family tells KARE 11 Duchene's remains will arrive in Minnesota 7 to 10 days prior to the official ceremony.
Home: St. Paul, Minnesota.
Service ID: 17080319.
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain Wallace C. Taylor POW
Target: White IV- Ploesti
Mission: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40655
Aircraft Model B-24D-
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:THE VULGAR VIRGIN
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: AA Crew 10 9 KIA 1 POW
Flown by Capt Wallace C. Taylor and crew Briefed to fly the lead position of the 5th wave attacking White IV at Ploesti, Rumania on Aug 1, 1943. Took a direct flack hit in the nose while approaching target and set on fire. Pilot gave bail out signal and climbed the aircraft, leveled out. P,CPL,E, WG believed to have bailed out though only the pilot survived with serious burns. The aircraft is believed to have crashed at Tatarani South of Ploesti.
Sgt. Duchene was a gunner in the 98th Bomb Group when he was killed. His name appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy, his body was never recovered.
Sgt. Duchene lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 98th destroys the Romanian oil refinery. Sgt. Duchene was one of the Pyramiders most decorated enlisted men including 7AM Oak Leaf clusters he was awarded his 2nd Distinguished flying cross for his valor on this mission.
Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN
1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator
1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer
T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner
Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner
~
PRESS RELEASE | Aug. 22, 2022
Airman Accounted For From World War II (Duchene, D.)
WASHINGTON – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene, 19, killed during World War II, was accounted for July 8, 2022.
In the summer of 1943, Duchene was assigned to the 343rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Duchene was serving as the tail gunner was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed during Operation TIDAL WAVE, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. His remains were not identified following the war. The remains that could not be identified were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.
~
This is a Memorial Site. View Actual burial here
~
Remains of US airman to be buried at Ft. Snelling, 79 years after crash
Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene of St. Paul was a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber that was shot down during a World War II mission over oil fields in Romania.
Author: Dana Thiede
Published: 11:43 AM CDT September 22, 2022
Updated: 12:01 PM CDT September 22, 2022
FORT SNELLING, Minn. — A Minnesota soldier will finally be home and at rest, nearly 80 years after being shot down over Romania in the midst of World War II.
U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Oct. 5. A funeral service will precede the burial. His family tells KARE 11 Duchene's remains will arrive in Minnesota 7 to 10 days prior to the official ceremony.
Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene DFC MIA/KIA
Home: St. Paul, Minnesota.
Service ID: 17080319.
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain Wallace C. Taylor POW
Target: White IV- Ploesti
Mission: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40655
Aircraft Model B-24D-
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:THE VULGAR VIRGIN
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: AA Crew 10 9 KIA 1 POW
Flown by Capt Wallace C. Taylor and crew Briefed to fly the lead position of the 5th wave attacking White IV at Ploesti, Rumania on Aug 1, 1943. Took a direct flack hit in the nose while approaching target and set on fire. Pilot gave bail out signal and climbed the aircraft, leveled out. P,CPL,E, WG believed to have bailed out though only the pilot survived with serious burns. The aircraft is believed to have crashed at Tatarani South of Ploesti.
Sgt. Duchene was a gunner in the 98th Bomb Group when he was killed. His name appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy, his body was never recovered.
Sgt. Duchene lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 98th destroys the Romanian oil refinery. Sgt. Duchene was one of the Pyramiders most decorated enlisted men including 7AM Oak Leaf clusters he was awarded his 2nd Distinguished flying cross for his valor on this mission.
Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN
1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator
1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer
T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner
Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner
~
PRESS RELEASE | Aug. 22, 2022
Airman Accounted For From World War II (Duchene, D.)
WASHINGTON – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene, 19, killed during World War II, was accounted for July 8, 2022.
In the summer of 1943, Duchene was assigned to the 343rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Duchene was serving as the tail gunner was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed during Operation TIDAL WAVE, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. His remains were not identified following the war. The remains that could not be identified were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.
~
This is a Memorial Site. View Actual burial here
~
Remains of US airman to be buried at Ft. Snelling, 79 years after crash
Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene of St. Paul was a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber that was shot down during a World War II mission over oil fields in Romania.
Author: Dana Thiede
Published: 11:43 AM CDT September 22, 2022
Updated: 12:01 PM CDT September 22, 2022
FORT SNELLING, Minn. — A Minnesota soldier will finally be home and at rest, nearly 80 years after being shot down over Romania in the midst of World War II.
U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Oct. 5. A funeral service will precede the burial. His family tells KARE 11 Duchene's remains will arrive in Minnesota 7 to 10 days prior to the official ceremony.
Home: St. Paul, Minnesota.
Service ID: 17080319.
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain Wallace C. Taylor POW
Target: White IV- Ploesti
Mission: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40655
Aircraft Model B-24D-
Aircraft Letter: C
Aircraft Name:THE VULGAR VIRGIN
Location: Lost near the target, Ploesti.
Cause: AA Crew 10 9 KIA 1 POW
Flown by Capt Wallace C. Taylor and crew Briefed to fly the lead position of the 5th wave attacking White IV at Ploesti, Rumania on Aug 1, 1943. Took a direct flack hit in the nose while approaching target and set on fire. Pilot gave bail out signal and climbed the aircraft, leveled out. P,CPL,E, WG believed to have bailed out though only the pilot survived with serious burns. The aircraft is believed to have crashed at Tatarani South of Ploesti.
Sgt. Duchene was a gunner in the 98th Bomb Group when he was killed. His name appears Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery Florence, Italy, his body was never recovered.
Sgt. Duchene lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 98th destroys the Romanian oil refinery. Sgt. Duchene was one of the Pyramiders most decorated enlisted men including 7AM Oak Leaf clusters he was awarded his 2nd Distinguished flying cross for his valor on this mission.
Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN
1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator
1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer
T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner
S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner
Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner
~
PRESS RELEASE | Aug. 22, 2022
Airman Accounted For From World War II (Duchene, D.)
WASHINGTON – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene, 19, killed during World War II, was accounted for July 8, 2022.
In the summer of 1943, Duchene was assigned to the 343rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24 Liberator aircraft on which Duchene was serving as the tail gunner was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed during Operation TIDAL WAVE, the largest bombing mission against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. His remains were not identified following the war. The remains that could not be identified were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.
~
This is a Memorial Site. View Actual burial here
~
Remains of US airman to be buried at Ft. Snelling, 79 years after crash
Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene of St. Paul was a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber that was shot down during a World War II mission over oil fields in Romania.
Author: Dana Thiede
Published: 11:43 AM CDT September 22, 2022
Updated: 12:01 PM CDT September 22, 2022
FORT SNELLING, Minn. — A Minnesota soldier will finally be home and at rest, nearly 80 years after being shot down over Romania in the midst of World War II.
U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Donald R. Duchene will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Oct. 5. A funeral service will precede the burial. His family tells KARE 11 Duchene's remains will arrive in Minnesota 7 to 10 days prior to the official ceremony.
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SSGT, 344 AAF BOMB SQ, 98 BOMB GP WORLD WAR II
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