S/Sgt. Howard W. Riley, 16150364, Trained as a Radio Operator but was a ball turrent gunner on this Mission, B-17 "Full House," 563rd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group (H), 8th Air Force. Killed in action on 22 December 1943 on a raid to bomb the railroad yards at Munster, Germany. Born on 11 October 1920, he entered the service on 12 November 1942 from Detroit, Michigan.
S/Sgt. Riley's aircraft was piloted by 2nd Lt. Webster M. Bull. Their B-17 (shown during a raid in the photo on the right) was last seen dropping behind the formation about 5 to 10 minutes after dropping its bombs on the target. Their #1 engine was feathered and the aircraft was seen being escorted by P-47s over Holland as it lost altitude and fell into the overcast.
According to the casualty questionnaire filled out by Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Thomas G. Wesson, Jr., the crew attempted to lighten the aircraft by throwing all loose equipment overboard. Somewhere over Holland, Lt. Bull ordered everyone to jump. It appears that only S/Sgt. Wesson, and Waist Gunner S/Sgt. John F. Rogowski managed to jump from the aircraft. All other crew members died with the aircraft. S/Sgt. Wesson last reports seeing S/Sgt. Riley as he helped Riley on with his chute.
Apparently the B-17 crashed into the Ijsselmeer River near Enkhuizen, Netherlands on 22 December 1943. It was not until 7 June 1944 that his body was found in the river by local fisherman and given a proper burial by the locals in the town.
He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. He was 23 years old.
S/Sgt. Riley's aircraft was piloted by 2nd Lt. Webster M. Bull. Their B-17 (shown during a raid in the photo on the right) was last seen dropping behind the formation about 5 to 10 minutes after dropping its bombs on the target. Their #1 engine was feathered and the aircraft was seen being escorted by P-47s over Holland as it lost altitude and fell into the overcast.
According to the casualty questionnaire filled out by Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Thomas G. Wesson, Jr., the crew attempted to lighten the aircraft by throwing all loose equipment overboard. Somewhere over Holland, Lt. Bull ordered everyone to jump. It appears that only S/Sgt. Wesson, and Waist Gunner S/Sgt. John F. Rogowski managed to jump from the aircraft. All other crew members died with the aircraft. S/Sgt. Wesson last reports seeing S/Sgt. Riley as he helped Riley on with his chute.
Apparently the B-17 crashed into the Ijsselmeer River near Enkhuizen, Netherlands on 22 December 1943. It was not until 7 June 1944 that his body was found in the river by local fisherman and given a proper burial by the locals in the town.
He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. He was 23 years old.
S/Sgt. Howard W. Riley, 16150364, Trained as a Radio Operator but was a ball turrent gunner on this Mission, B-17 "Full House," 563rd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group (H), 8th Air Force. Killed in action on 22 December 1943 on a raid to bomb the railroad yards at Munster, Germany. Born on 11 October 1920, he entered the service on 12 November 1942 from Detroit, Michigan.
S/Sgt. Riley's aircraft was piloted by 2nd Lt. Webster M. Bull. Their B-17 (shown during a raid in the photo on the right) was last seen dropping behind the formation about 5 to 10 minutes after dropping its bombs on the target. Their #1 engine was feathered and the aircraft was seen being escorted by P-47s over Holland as it lost altitude and fell into the overcast.
According to the casualty questionnaire filled out by Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Thomas G. Wesson, Jr., the crew attempted to lighten the aircraft by throwing all loose equipment overboard. Somewhere over Holland, Lt. Bull ordered everyone to jump. It appears that only S/Sgt. Wesson, and Waist Gunner S/Sgt. John F. Rogowski managed to jump from the aircraft. All other crew members died with the aircraft. S/Sgt. Wesson last reports seeing S/Sgt. Riley as he helped Riley on with his chute.
Apparently the B-17 crashed into the Ijsselmeer River near Enkhuizen, Netherlands on 22 December 1943. It was not until 7 June 1944 that his body was found in the river by local fisherman and given a proper burial by the locals in the town.
He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. He was 23 years old.
S/Sgt. Riley's aircraft was piloted by 2nd Lt. Webster M. Bull. Their B-17 (shown during a raid in the photo on the right) was last seen dropping behind the formation about 5 to 10 minutes after dropping its bombs on the target. Their #1 engine was feathered and the aircraft was seen being escorted by P-47s over Holland as it lost altitude and fell into the overcast.
According to the casualty questionnaire filled out by Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Thomas G. Wesson, Jr., the crew attempted to lighten the aircraft by throwing all loose equipment overboard. Somewhere over Holland, Lt. Bull ordered everyone to jump. It appears that only S/Sgt. Wesson, and Waist Gunner S/Sgt. John F. Rogowski managed to jump from the aircraft. All other crew members died with the aircraft. S/Sgt. Wesson last reports seeing S/Sgt. Riley as he helped Riley on with his chute.
Apparently the B-17 crashed into the Ijsselmeer River near Enkhuizen, Netherlands on 22 December 1943. It was not until 7 June 1944 that his body was found in the river by local fisherman and given a proper burial by the locals in the town.
He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. He was 23 years old.
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