"A LONG JOURNEY HOME"
Howard F. Gotts, the son of F. Nelson and Ina Estey Gotts, was born and raised in Flint, New York. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1937 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. After completing his training at Camp Upton on Long Island, he shipped off to Europe; his family never saw him again.
By the summer of 1943, he was assigned to the role of a radio operator with the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy,) also known as the "Flying 8-Balls." In that capacity, he was part of the crew of a B-24 Liberator aircraft, along with eight other men. Their plane's nickname was the "Wing-Dinger" after the pilot of the heavy bomber, Lt. George Winger.
On the first of August 1943, the Wing-Dinger took off from Benghazi, Libya to participate in Operation Tidal Wave, which was the largest Allied bombing offensive against the oil fields and refineries of Ploesti, Romania. Located north of Bucharest, these fields provided approximately one-third of all the fuel and lubricant requirements of Nazi Germany.
The aircraft had the ill luck of being part of the final wave of the attack formation, which meant that the Romanian anti-aircraft gunners were fully prepared for their arrival. As the aircraft made its bombing approach, it was struck multiple times, but managed to proceed to the target and drop the bomb it carried. Reports state that the aircraft was on fire by then; Lt. Winger put the plane into a steep climb and managed to get high enough to allow two of the crewmen bail out and parachute to safety.
Reportedly, Gotts jumped as well, but was too low for his parachute to open. He was killed, as were the other six members of the crew when the plane crashed. Approximately 650 Allied airmen were killed that day.
The Romanian government later announced they had recovered and buried 216 Americans killed in the bombing raid but could only identify 27 of the men at the time of the recovery. The remaining casualties were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania. After the war ended, the remains were relocated to the American Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. Two of Gotts' crewmates were identified, but the remaining crewmembers, including Gotts, could not be identified, and his name was not found on any prisoner of war list. His remains were declared non-recoverable.
At some point, his parents placed a memorial headstone in the family plot at Sand Hill Cemetery in his hometown. They both passed away in the 1950's, and eventually his sister and brothers passed as well.
In 2017, advances in DNA testing prompted the exhumation of unidentified remains by the Department of Defense. To identify Gotts' remains, scientists from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) used dental and anthropological analysis, along with other evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, comparing the results against DNA samples provided by his great-nieces to confirm the identification in June of 2019.
His remains were flown into Rochester on August 31, 2019, escorted by his great-great-grandnephew, US Army Major Brian Kent. Finally, on Monday, September 2, 2019, Howard Gotts was buried in the family plot with full military honors, 76 years after his death.
He is also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial near Florence, Italy. A rosette has been placed next to his name to show that he has now been accounted for.
SOURCES:
Find A Grave Contributors:
usafdo (48612389)
SBR (49039178)
Other Sources:
• "Sgt. Howard Gotts, killed during a daring WWII mission, finally comes home," by Justin Murphy; Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 2, 2019.
• Obituary information posted on the website of Kenneth J. Perkins Funeral Home.
• "Local WWII airman's remains returned to family 76 years after his death," posted Sep 2, 2019 on RochesterFirst.com
• "Airman Accounted For From World War II (Gotts, H.)" Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Release No: 19-104, June 26, 2019
Howard F. Gotts, the son of F. Nelson and Ina Estey Gotts, was born and raised in Flint, New York. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1937 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. After completing his training at Camp Upton on Long Island, he shipped off to Europe; his family never saw him again.
By the summer of 1943, he was assigned to the role of a radio operator with the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy,) also known as the "Flying 8-Balls." In that capacity, he was part of the crew of a B-24 Liberator aircraft, along with eight other men. Their plane's nickname was the "Wing-Dinger" after the pilot of the heavy bomber, Lt. George Winger.
On the first of August 1943, the Wing-Dinger took off from Benghazi, Libya to participate in Operation Tidal Wave, which was the largest Allied bombing offensive against the oil fields and refineries of Ploesti, Romania. Located north of Bucharest, these fields provided approximately one-third of all the fuel and lubricant requirements of Nazi Germany.
The aircraft had the ill luck of being part of the final wave of the attack formation, which meant that the Romanian anti-aircraft gunners were fully prepared for their arrival. As the aircraft made its bombing approach, it was struck multiple times, but managed to proceed to the target and drop the bomb it carried. Reports state that the aircraft was on fire by then; Lt. Winger put the plane into a steep climb and managed to get high enough to allow two of the crewmen bail out and parachute to safety.
Reportedly, Gotts jumped as well, but was too low for his parachute to open. He was killed, as were the other six members of the crew when the plane crashed. Approximately 650 Allied airmen were killed that day.
The Romanian government later announced they had recovered and buried 216 Americans killed in the bombing raid but could only identify 27 of the men at the time of the recovery. The remaining casualties were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania. After the war ended, the remains were relocated to the American Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. Two of Gotts' crewmates were identified, but the remaining crewmembers, including Gotts, could not be identified, and his name was not found on any prisoner of war list. His remains were declared non-recoverable.
At some point, his parents placed a memorial headstone in the family plot at Sand Hill Cemetery in his hometown. They both passed away in the 1950's, and eventually his sister and brothers passed as well.
In 2017, advances in DNA testing prompted the exhumation of unidentified remains by the Department of Defense. To identify Gotts' remains, scientists from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) used dental and anthropological analysis, along with other evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, comparing the results against DNA samples provided by his great-nieces to confirm the identification in June of 2019.
His remains were flown into Rochester on August 31, 2019, escorted by his great-great-grandnephew, US Army Major Brian Kent. Finally, on Monday, September 2, 2019, Howard Gotts was buried in the family plot with full military honors, 76 years after his death.
He is also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial near Florence, Italy. A rosette has been placed next to his name to show that he has now been accounted for.
SOURCES:
Find A Grave Contributors:
usafdo (48612389)
SBR (49039178)
Other Sources:
• "Sgt. Howard Gotts, killed during a daring WWII mission, finally comes home," by Justin Murphy; Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 2, 2019.
• Obituary information posted on the website of Kenneth J. Perkins Funeral Home.
• "Local WWII airman's remains returned to family 76 years after his death," posted Sep 2, 2019 on RochesterFirst.com
• "Airman Accounted For From World War II (Gotts, H.)" Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Release No: 19-104, June 26, 2019
"A LONG JOURNEY HOME"
Howard F. Gotts, the son of F. Nelson and Ina Estey Gotts, was born and raised in Flint, New York. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1937 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. After completing his training at Camp Upton on Long Island, he shipped off to Europe; his family never saw him again.
By the summer of 1943, he was assigned to the role of a radio operator with the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy,) also known as the "Flying 8-Balls." In that capacity, he was part of the crew of a B-24 Liberator aircraft, along with eight other men. Their plane's nickname was the "Wing-Dinger" after the pilot of the heavy bomber, Lt. George Winger.
On the first of August 1943, the Wing-Dinger took off from Benghazi, Libya to participate in Operation Tidal Wave, which was the largest Allied bombing offensive against the oil fields and refineries of Ploesti, Romania. Located north of Bucharest, these fields provided approximately one-third of all the fuel and lubricant requirements of Nazi Germany.
The aircraft had the ill luck of being part of the final wave of the attack formation, which meant that the Romanian anti-aircraft gunners were fully prepared for their arrival. As the aircraft made its bombing approach, it was struck multiple times, but managed to proceed to the target and drop the bomb it carried. Reports state that the aircraft was on fire by then; Lt. Winger put the plane into a steep climb and managed to get high enough to allow two of the crewmen bail out and parachute to safety.
Reportedly, Gotts jumped as well, but was too low for his parachute to open. He was killed, as were the other six members of the crew when the plane crashed. Approximately 650 Allied airmen were killed that day.
The Romanian government later announced they had recovered and buried 216 Americans killed in the bombing raid but could only identify 27 of the men at the time of the recovery. The remaining casualties were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania. After the war ended, the remains were relocated to the American Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. Two of Gotts' crewmates were identified, but the remaining crewmembers, including Gotts, could not be identified, and his name was not found on any prisoner of war list. His remains were declared non-recoverable.
At some point, his parents placed a memorial headstone in the family plot at Sand Hill Cemetery in his hometown. They both passed away in the 1950's, and eventually his sister and brothers passed as well.
In 2017, advances in DNA testing prompted the exhumation of unidentified remains by the Department of Defense. To identify Gotts' remains, scientists from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) used dental and anthropological analysis, along with other evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, comparing the results against DNA samples provided by his great-nieces to confirm the identification in June of 2019.
His remains were flown into Rochester on August 31, 2019, escorted by his great-great-grandnephew, US Army Major Brian Kent. Finally, on Monday, September 2, 2019, Howard Gotts was buried in the family plot with full military honors, 76 years after his death.
He is also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial near Florence, Italy. A rosette has been placed next to his name to show that he has now been accounted for.
SOURCES:
Find A Grave Contributors:
usafdo (48612389)
SBR (49039178)
Other Sources:
• "Sgt. Howard Gotts, killed during a daring WWII mission, finally comes home," by Justin Murphy; Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 2, 2019.
• Obituary information posted on the website of Kenneth J. Perkins Funeral Home.
• "Local WWII airman's remains returned to family 76 years after his death," posted Sep 2, 2019 on RochesterFirst.com
• "Airman Accounted For From World War II (Gotts, H.)" Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Release No: 19-104, June 26, 2019
Howard F. Gotts, the son of F. Nelson and Ina Estey Gotts, was born and raised in Flint, New York. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1937 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. After completing his training at Camp Upton on Long Island, he shipped off to Europe; his family never saw him again.
By the summer of 1943, he was assigned to the role of a radio operator with the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy,) also known as the "Flying 8-Balls." In that capacity, he was part of the crew of a B-24 Liberator aircraft, along with eight other men. Their plane's nickname was the "Wing-Dinger" after the pilot of the heavy bomber, Lt. George Winger.
On the first of August 1943, the Wing-Dinger took off from Benghazi, Libya to participate in Operation Tidal Wave, which was the largest Allied bombing offensive against the oil fields and refineries of Ploesti, Romania. Located north of Bucharest, these fields provided approximately one-third of all the fuel and lubricant requirements of Nazi Germany.
The aircraft had the ill luck of being part of the final wave of the attack formation, which meant that the Romanian anti-aircraft gunners were fully prepared for their arrival. As the aircraft made its bombing approach, it was struck multiple times, but managed to proceed to the target and drop the bomb it carried. Reports state that the aircraft was on fire by then; Lt. Winger put the plane into a steep climb and managed to get high enough to allow two of the crewmen bail out and parachute to safety.
Reportedly, Gotts jumped as well, but was too low for his parachute to open. He was killed, as were the other six members of the crew when the plane crashed. Approximately 650 Allied airmen were killed that day.
The Romanian government later announced they had recovered and buried 216 Americans killed in the bombing raid but could only identify 27 of the men at the time of the recovery. The remaining casualties were buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania. After the war ended, the remains were relocated to the American Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. Two of Gotts' crewmates were identified, but the remaining crewmembers, including Gotts, could not be identified, and his name was not found on any prisoner of war list. His remains were declared non-recoverable.
At some point, his parents placed a memorial headstone in the family plot at Sand Hill Cemetery in his hometown. They both passed away in the 1950's, and eventually his sister and brothers passed as well.
In 2017, advances in DNA testing prompted the exhumation of unidentified remains by the Department of Defense. To identify Gotts' remains, scientists from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) used dental and anthropological analysis, along with other evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA analysis, comparing the results against DNA samples provided by his great-nieces to confirm the identification in June of 2019.
His remains were flown into Rochester on August 31, 2019, escorted by his great-great-grandnephew, US Army Major Brian Kent. Finally, on Monday, September 2, 2019, Howard Gotts was buried in the family plot with full military honors, 76 years after his death.
He is also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial near Florence, Italy. A rosette has been placed next to his name to show that he has now been accounted for.
SOURCES:
Find A Grave Contributors:
usafdo (48612389)
SBR (49039178)
Other Sources:
• "Sgt. Howard Gotts, killed during a daring WWII mission, finally comes home," by Justin Murphy; Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 2, 2019.
• Obituary information posted on the website of Kenneth J. Perkins Funeral Home.
• "Local WWII airman's remains returned to family 76 years after his death," posted Sep 2, 2019 on RochesterFirst.com
• "Airman Accounted For From World War II (Gotts, H.)" Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Release No: 19-104, June 26, 2019
Inscription
In loving memory of our beloved son... who was killed in action over the Ploesti oil fields of Rumania. World War 2.
Gravesite Details
This was originally a memorial marker, but his remains were eventually interred here in the fall of 2019.
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