Homer A. Thurman
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
67th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, Heavy
Entered the Service from: Kansas
Died: 25-May-44
Buried at: Plot C Row 2 Grave 6
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Awards: Purple Heart
***********
Info provided by : John Dowdy (#47791572) 12/25/2014
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner Sgt. Homer A. Thurman KIA
Hometown: Turner, Kansas
Squadron: 67th 44th Bomb Group
Service# 37211941
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Frank J. Tomer KIA
MACR #5158
Target: Belfort, France
Mission Date: 25-May-44
Serial Number: #42-94962
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: I-Bar
Aircraft Name:
Location: The crash site is near Erchau, 30 kilometers southwest of St.Quentin.
Cause: Flak
Crew of 10 7KIA 2POW 1EVD
Primary target was the Belfort Marshalling Yards located on the main railroad
line between Paris and Switzerland, and only ten miles from the Swiss border.
Flak was meager and slightly accurate and the fighter support was excellent. Yet
one 67th Squadron aircraft was lost.
The MACR states in part that at 0842 hours, this aircraft (962 I-Bar) left formation, went into a steep dive with #2 engine feathered and #3 engine smoking. It apparently was under control and seemed to be headed for Switzerland. Weather was good. All three survivors have been located. Sgt.
Anderson, tail turret gunner, said, "After we left the formation, we flew around a bit trying to decide what to do with our bombs. We finally found a big, open space and let them go. We then discussed what to do – to go on to Switzerland,
which wasn't that far away, or to attempt to make it back to England. "By that time we were down to about 10,000 feet due to those ailing engines, but thought that with luck, we could get back to base. We flew at this altitude because we
couldn't get any higher – and were prime targets for the German flak batteries.
Eventually we were hit again by flak, and this time I believe it was the nose section because the plane started falling at once. Those of us in the back never
heard anything from up front over the intercom, but it was time to get out. I was the first one out, Brose was right behind me, and Steburg was last. But about the time that he was leaving, there was an explosion, and Steburg was
pretty badly burned. "I broke my ankle when I hit the ground so had no chance to attempt evading. But the last time that I saw Brose, he was heading for a forest. We were in the county of Champagne, France, about 60 miles west of
Paris. The doomed plane went straight to the ground arrying the rest of our
crew to their deaths. It exploded again and burned.
"Steburg and myself were at Stalag Luft IV until February 1945, when I was marched out and was liberated May 12th. I never knew what happened to Brose and am happy to learn that he made it."
Lt. Tomer Crew
1st/Lt. Frank J. Tomer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. James E. Sanders Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Quinton A. Franson Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Bertis R. Prince Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Kenneth C. Navish Engineer KIA
S/Sgt.
Ervin Katz Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Willis L. Steburg Gunner POW
S/Sgt. William F. Brose Gunner EVD
S/Sgt.
Homer A. Thurman Gunner KIA
S/Sgt.
Eldon B. Anderson POW
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
67th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, Heavy
Entered the Service from: Kansas
Died: 25-May-44
Buried at: Plot C Row 2 Grave 6
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Awards: Purple Heart
***********
Info provided by : John Dowdy (#47791572) 12/25/2014
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner Sgt. Homer A. Thurman KIA
Hometown: Turner, Kansas
Squadron: 67th 44th Bomb Group
Service# 37211941
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Frank J. Tomer KIA
MACR #5158
Target: Belfort, France
Mission Date: 25-May-44
Serial Number: #42-94962
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: I-Bar
Aircraft Name:
Location: The crash site is near Erchau, 30 kilometers southwest of St.Quentin.
Cause: Flak
Crew of 10 7KIA 2POW 1EVD
Primary target was the Belfort Marshalling Yards located on the main railroad
line between Paris and Switzerland, and only ten miles from the Swiss border.
Flak was meager and slightly accurate and the fighter support was excellent. Yet
one 67th Squadron aircraft was lost.
The MACR states in part that at 0842 hours, this aircraft (962 I-Bar) left formation, went into a steep dive with #2 engine feathered and #3 engine smoking. It apparently was under control and seemed to be headed for Switzerland. Weather was good. All three survivors have been located. Sgt.
Anderson, tail turret gunner, said, "After we left the formation, we flew around a bit trying to decide what to do with our bombs. We finally found a big, open space and let them go. We then discussed what to do – to go on to Switzerland,
which wasn't that far away, or to attempt to make it back to England. "By that time we were down to about 10,000 feet due to those ailing engines, but thought that with luck, we could get back to base. We flew at this altitude because we
couldn't get any higher – and were prime targets for the German flak batteries.
Eventually we were hit again by flak, and this time I believe it was the nose section because the plane started falling at once. Those of us in the back never
heard anything from up front over the intercom, but it was time to get out. I was the first one out, Brose was right behind me, and Steburg was last. But about the time that he was leaving, there was an explosion, and Steburg was
pretty badly burned. "I broke my ankle when I hit the ground so had no chance to attempt evading. But the last time that I saw Brose, he was heading for a forest. We were in the county of Champagne, France, about 60 miles west of
Paris. The doomed plane went straight to the ground arrying the rest of our
crew to their deaths. It exploded again and burned.
"Steburg and myself were at Stalag Luft IV until February 1945, when I was marched out and was liberated May 12th. I never knew what happened to Brose and am happy to learn that he made it."
Lt. Tomer Crew
1st/Lt. Frank J. Tomer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. James E. Sanders Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Quinton A. Franson Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Bertis R. Prince Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Kenneth C. Navish Engineer KIA
S/Sgt.
Ervin Katz Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Willis L. Steburg Gunner POW
S/Sgt. William F. Brose Gunner EVD
S/Sgt.
Homer A. Thurman Gunner KIA
S/Sgt.
Eldon B. Anderson POW
Homer A. Thurman
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
67th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, Heavy
Entered the Service from: Kansas
Died: 25-May-44
Buried at: Plot C Row 2 Grave 6
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Awards: Purple Heart
***********
Info provided by : John Dowdy (#47791572) 12/25/2014
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner Sgt. Homer A. Thurman KIA
Hometown: Turner, Kansas
Squadron: 67th 44th Bomb Group
Service# 37211941
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Frank J. Tomer KIA
MACR #5158
Target: Belfort, France
Mission Date: 25-May-44
Serial Number: #42-94962
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: I-Bar
Aircraft Name:
Location: The crash site is near Erchau, 30 kilometers southwest of St.Quentin.
Cause: Flak
Crew of 10 7KIA 2POW 1EVD
Primary target was the Belfort Marshalling Yards located on the main railroad
line between Paris and Switzerland, and only ten miles from the Swiss border.
Flak was meager and slightly accurate and the fighter support was excellent. Yet
one 67th Squadron aircraft was lost.
The MACR states in part that at 0842 hours, this aircraft (962 I-Bar) left formation, went into a steep dive with #2 engine feathered and #3 engine smoking. It apparently was under control and seemed to be headed for Switzerland. Weather was good. All three survivors have been located. Sgt.
Anderson, tail turret gunner, said, "After we left the formation, we flew around a bit trying to decide what to do with our bombs. We finally found a big, open space and let them go. We then discussed what to do – to go on to Switzerland,
which wasn't that far away, or to attempt to make it back to England. "By that time we were down to about 10,000 feet due to those ailing engines, but thought that with luck, we could get back to base. We flew at this altitude because we
couldn't get any higher – and were prime targets for the German flak batteries.
Eventually we were hit again by flak, and this time I believe it was the nose section because the plane started falling at once. Those of us in the back never
heard anything from up front over the intercom, but it was time to get out. I was the first one out, Brose was right behind me, and Steburg was last. But about the time that he was leaving, there was an explosion, and Steburg was
pretty badly burned. "I broke my ankle when I hit the ground so had no chance to attempt evading. But the last time that I saw Brose, he was heading for a forest. We were in the county of Champagne, France, about 60 miles west of
Paris. The doomed plane went straight to the ground arrying the rest of our
crew to their deaths. It exploded again and burned.
"Steburg and myself were at Stalag Luft IV until February 1945, when I was marched out and was liberated May 12th. I never knew what happened to Brose and am happy to learn that he made it."
Lt. Tomer Crew
1st/Lt. Frank J. Tomer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. James E. Sanders Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Quinton A. Franson Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Bertis R. Prince Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Kenneth C. Navish Engineer KIA
S/Sgt.
Ervin Katz Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Willis L. Steburg Gunner POW
S/Sgt. William F. Brose Gunner EVD
S/Sgt.
Homer A. Thurman Gunner KIA
S/Sgt.
Eldon B. Anderson POW
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
67th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, Heavy
Entered the Service from: Kansas
Died: 25-May-44
Buried at: Plot C Row 2 Grave 6
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Awards: Purple Heart
***********
Info provided by : John Dowdy (#47791572) 12/25/2014
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner Sgt. Homer A. Thurman KIA
Hometown: Turner, Kansas
Squadron: 67th 44th Bomb Group
Service# 37211941
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Frank J. Tomer KIA
MACR #5158
Target: Belfort, France
Mission Date: 25-May-44
Serial Number: #42-94962
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: I-Bar
Aircraft Name:
Location: The crash site is near Erchau, 30 kilometers southwest of St.Quentin.
Cause: Flak
Crew of 10 7KIA 2POW 1EVD
Primary target was the Belfort Marshalling Yards located on the main railroad
line between Paris and Switzerland, and only ten miles from the Swiss border.
Flak was meager and slightly accurate and the fighter support was excellent. Yet
one 67th Squadron aircraft was lost.
The MACR states in part that at 0842 hours, this aircraft (962 I-Bar) left formation, went into a steep dive with #2 engine feathered and #3 engine smoking. It apparently was under control and seemed to be headed for Switzerland. Weather was good. All three survivors have been located. Sgt.
Anderson, tail turret gunner, said, "After we left the formation, we flew around a bit trying to decide what to do with our bombs. We finally found a big, open space and let them go. We then discussed what to do – to go on to Switzerland,
which wasn't that far away, or to attempt to make it back to England. "By that time we were down to about 10,000 feet due to those ailing engines, but thought that with luck, we could get back to base. We flew at this altitude because we
couldn't get any higher – and were prime targets for the German flak batteries.
Eventually we were hit again by flak, and this time I believe it was the nose section because the plane started falling at once. Those of us in the back never
heard anything from up front over the intercom, but it was time to get out. I was the first one out, Brose was right behind me, and Steburg was last. But about the time that he was leaving, there was an explosion, and Steburg was
pretty badly burned. "I broke my ankle when I hit the ground so had no chance to attempt evading. But the last time that I saw Brose, he was heading for a forest. We were in the county of Champagne, France, about 60 miles west of
Paris. The doomed plane went straight to the ground arrying the rest of our
crew to their deaths. It exploded again and burned.
"Steburg and myself were at Stalag Luft IV until February 1945, when I was marched out and was liberated May 12th. I never knew what happened to Brose and am happy to learn that he made it."
Lt. Tomer Crew
1st/Lt. Frank J. Tomer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. James E. Sanders Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Quinton A. Franson Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Bertis R. Prince Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Kenneth C. Navish Engineer KIA
S/Sgt.
Ervin Katz Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Willis L. Steburg Gunner POW
S/Sgt. William F. Brose Gunner EVD
S/Sgt.
Homer A. Thurman Gunner KIA
S/Sgt.
Eldon B. Anderson POW
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