USAAF WORLD WAR II
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William L. Brueggeman MIA/KIA
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 531st 380th Bomb Group
Service# 0-785650
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart Medal
James F. O'Brien Pilot POW/KIA
Target:Shipping, Saigon
Mission Date: 20-Apr-45
Serial Number: # 42-73474
Aircraft Model B-24J
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Patches"
Location: Never Found
Cause: Ditched, Engine Failure,
Based in the Philippines, "Patches" was shot down over Indochina. O'Brien was captured, possibly at sea, tortured and killed by the Japanese. The ship was lost on the way to the target for a bombing mission against Saigon. Last known position was over South China Sea with last reported position at 10deg 15min N lat and 110deg 15min E long. The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Presumed dead by War Department in March 1946. The entire crew (except O'Brien) are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Manila American Cemetery.
"Patches" Crew
James F. O'Brien Pilot POW/KIA
Flt/Of. Harry S. Letchas Co Pilot MIA/KIA
Flt/Of. Harry S. Letchas Co Pilot MIA/KIA
Robert T. Graham Navigator MIA/KIA
William L. Brueggeman Bombardier MIA/KIA
Corp Newell W. McClay Jr. Engineer MIA/KIA
Corp Junius D. Jenkins Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Corp Junius D. Jenkins Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Corp. John J. Barrow Gunner MIA/KIA
Corp Kile Bingham Gunner MIA/KIA
Corp Max A. Brown Gunner MIA/KIA
Pvt. Joseph F. Hanish Gunner MIA/KIA
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William L. Brueggeman MIA/KIA
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 531st 380th Bomb Group
Service# 0-785650
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart Medal
James F. O'Brien Pilot POW/KIA
Target:Shipping, Saigon
Mission Date: 20-Apr-45
Serial Number: # 42-73474
Aircraft Model B-24J
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Patches"
Location: Never Found
Cause: Ditched, Engine Failure,
Based in the Philippines, "Patches" was shot down over Indochina. O'Brien was captured, possibly at sea, tortured and killed by the Japanese. The ship was lost on the way to the target for a bombing mission against Saigon. Last known position was over South China Sea with last reported position at 10deg 15min N lat and 110deg 15min E long. The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Presumed dead by War Department in March 1946. The entire crew (except O'Brien) are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Manila American Cemetery.
"Patches" Crew
James F. O'Brien Pilot POW/KIA
Flt/Of. Harry S. Letchas Co Pilot MIA/KIA
Flt/Of. Harry S. Letchas Co Pilot MIA/KIA
Robert T. Graham Navigator MIA/KIA
William L. Brueggeman Bombardier MIA/KIA
Corp Newell W. McClay Jr. Engineer MIA/KIA
Corp Junius D. Jenkins Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Corp Junius D. Jenkins Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Corp. John J. Barrow Gunner MIA/KIA
Corp Kile Bingham Gunner MIA/KIA
Corp Max A. Brown Gunner MIA/KIA
Pvt. Joseph F. Hanish Gunner MIA/KIA
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William L. Brueggeman MIA/KIA
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 531st 380th Bomb Group
Service# 0-785650
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart Medal
James F. O'Brien Pilot POW/KIA
Target:Shipping, Saigon
Mission Date: 20-Apr-45
Serial Number: # 42-73474
Aircraft Model B-24J
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Patches"
Location: Never Found
Cause: Ditched, Engine Failure,
Based in the Philippines, "Patches" was shot down over Indochina. O'Brien was captured, possibly at sea, tortured and killed by the Japanese. The ship was lost on the way to the target for a bombing mission against Saigon. Last known position was over South China Sea with last reported position at 10deg 15min N lat and 110deg 15min E long. The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Presumed dead by War Department in March 1946. The entire crew (except O'Brien) are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Manila American Cemetery.
"Patches" Crew
James F. O'Brien Pilot POW/KIA
Flt/Of. Harry S. Letchas Co Pilot MIA/KIA
Flt/Of. Harry S. Letchas Co Pilot MIA/KIA
Robert T. Graham Navigator MIA/KIA
William L. Brueggeman Bombardier MIA/KIA
Corp Newell W. McClay Jr. Engineer MIA/KIA
Corp Junius D. Jenkins Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Corp Junius D. Jenkins Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Corp. John J. Barrow Gunner MIA/KIA
Corp Kile Bingham Gunner MIA/KIA
Corp Max A. Brown Gunner MIA/KIA
Pvt. Joseph F. Hanish Gunner MIA/KIA
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William L. Brueggeman MIA/KIA
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 531st 380th Bomb Group
Service# 0-785650
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart Medal
James F. O'Brien Pilot POW/KIA
Target:Shipping, Saigon
Mission Date: 20-Apr-45
Serial Number: # 42-73474
Aircraft Model B-24J
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Patches"
Location: Never Found
Cause: Ditched, Engine Failure,
Based in the Philippines, "Patches" was shot down over Indochina. O'Brien was captured, possibly at sea, tortured and killed by the Japanese. The ship was lost on the way to the target for a bombing mission against Saigon. Last known position was over South China Sea with last reported position at 10deg 15min N lat and 110deg 15min E long. The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Presumed dead by War Department in March 1946. The entire crew (except O'Brien) are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Manila American Cemetery.
"Patches" Crew
James F. O'Brien Pilot POW/KIA
Flt/Of. Harry S. Letchas Co Pilot MIA/KIA
Flt/Of. Harry S. Letchas Co Pilot MIA/KIA
Robert T. Graham Navigator MIA/KIA
William L. Brueggeman Bombardier MIA/KIA
Corp Newell W. McClay Jr. Engineer MIA/KIA
Corp Junius D. Jenkins Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Corp Junius D. Jenkins Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Corp. John J. Barrow Gunner MIA/KIA
Corp Kile Bingham Gunner MIA/KIA
Corp Max A. Brown Gunner MIA/KIA
Pvt. Joseph F. Hanish Gunner MIA/KIA
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Michigan.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
