S/SGT, US ARMY AIR CORPS WORLD WAR II.
68th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, Shipdham, Norfolk.
On the route out of the continent near the coast, a cloud layer building up to 28,000 feet caused the group to break the integrity of the formation. As described previously, the two aircraft collided. On 24 October, 1944, six days after the above two losses, official word was received as to the cause for the loss of two of the three aircraft MIA on the 18th. "The flight surgeon's report stated that the aircraft piloted by Lts. Bakalo and Dayball, collided in mid-air during an electrical storm over Belgium. Both aircraft crashed, with one exploding; all crew members were killed in action except Lt. Bakalo's two waist gunners, who bailed out safely. Twelve bodies were found in the two crashed Liberators.
(American Air Museum, Duxford)
Previously reported missing in action over Germany since October 18, 1944, S/Sgt. Ivan Wayne Fink was killed in action on that date, according to a telegram received by his parents last evening from the war department. No details of the young man's death were given, but the message stated that further information would be forthcoming.
S/Sgt. Fink, who was serving as first engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24, had been overseas since July 24, 1944 serving in both England and Ireland.
He entered the army air corps on March 9, 1943, training at New Cumberland and Miami Beach, Fla. He was graduated from gunnery school at Harlingen Field, Tex. on June 15, 1943, going from there to Keesler Field, Miss., where he received bomber mechanics training. Further training was received at Salt Lake City, Utah, Peterson Field, Colo., Mountain Home, Idaho, where he was qualified as an engineer, and Topeka, Kans.
Excerpt taken from Article in Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA, Thursday, November 9, 1944, Page 16, transcribed by D. Miles
.
68th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, Shipdham, Norfolk.
On the route out of the continent near the coast, a cloud layer building up to 28,000 feet caused the group to break the integrity of the formation. As described previously, the two aircraft collided. On 24 October, 1944, six days after the above two losses, official word was received as to the cause for the loss of two of the three aircraft MIA on the 18th. "The flight surgeon's report stated that the aircraft piloted by Lts. Bakalo and Dayball, collided in mid-air during an electrical storm over Belgium. Both aircraft crashed, with one exploding; all crew members were killed in action except Lt. Bakalo's two waist gunners, who bailed out safely. Twelve bodies were found in the two crashed Liberators.
(American Air Museum, Duxford)
Previously reported missing in action over Germany since October 18, 1944, S/Sgt. Ivan Wayne Fink was killed in action on that date, according to a telegram received by his parents last evening from the war department. No details of the young man's death were given, but the message stated that further information would be forthcoming.
S/Sgt. Fink, who was serving as first engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24, had been overseas since July 24, 1944 serving in both England and Ireland.
He entered the army air corps on March 9, 1943, training at New Cumberland and Miami Beach, Fla. He was graduated from gunnery school at Harlingen Field, Tex. on June 15, 1943, going from there to Keesler Field, Miss., where he received bomber mechanics training. Further training was received at Salt Lake City, Utah, Peterson Field, Colo., Mountain Home, Idaho, where he was qualified as an engineer, and Topeka, Kans.
Excerpt taken from Article in Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA, Thursday, November 9, 1944, Page 16, transcribed by D. Miles
.
S/SGT, US ARMY AIR CORPS WORLD WAR II.
68th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, Shipdham, Norfolk.
On the route out of the continent near the coast, a cloud layer building up to 28,000 feet caused the group to break the integrity of the formation. As described previously, the two aircraft collided. On 24 October, 1944, six days after the above two losses, official word was received as to the cause for the loss of two of the three aircraft MIA on the 18th. "The flight surgeon's report stated that the aircraft piloted by Lts. Bakalo and Dayball, collided in mid-air during an electrical storm over Belgium. Both aircraft crashed, with one exploding; all crew members were killed in action except Lt. Bakalo's two waist gunners, who bailed out safely. Twelve bodies were found in the two crashed Liberators.
(American Air Museum, Duxford)
Previously reported missing in action over Germany since October 18, 1944, S/Sgt. Ivan Wayne Fink was killed in action on that date, according to a telegram received by his parents last evening from the war department. No details of the young man's death were given, but the message stated that further information would be forthcoming.
S/Sgt. Fink, who was serving as first engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24, had been overseas since July 24, 1944 serving in both England and Ireland.
He entered the army air corps on March 9, 1943, training at New Cumberland and Miami Beach, Fla. He was graduated from gunnery school at Harlingen Field, Tex. on June 15, 1943, going from there to Keesler Field, Miss., where he received bomber mechanics training. Further training was received at Salt Lake City, Utah, Peterson Field, Colo., Mountain Home, Idaho, where he was qualified as an engineer, and Topeka, Kans.
Excerpt taken from Article in Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA, Thursday, November 9, 1944, Page 16, transcribed by D. Miles
.
68th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, Shipdham, Norfolk.
On the route out of the continent near the coast, a cloud layer building up to 28,000 feet caused the group to break the integrity of the formation. As described previously, the two aircraft collided. On 24 October, 1944, six days after the above two losses, official word was received as to the cause for the loss of two of the three aircraft MIA on the 18th. "The flight surgeon's report stated that the aircraft piloted by Lts. Bakalo and Dayball, collided in mid-air during an electrical storm over Belgium. Both aircraft crashed, with one exploding; all crew members were killed in action except Lt. Bakalo's two waist gunners, who bailed out safely. Twelve bodies were found in the two crashed Liberators.
(American Air Museum, Duxford)
Previously reported missing in action over Germany since October 18, 1944, S/Sgt. Ivan Wayne Fink was killed in action on that date, according to a telegram received by his parents last evening from the war department. No details of the young man's death were given, but the message stated that further information would be forthcoming.
S/Sgt. Fink, who was serving as first engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24, had been overseas since July 24, 1944 serving in both England and Ireland.
He entered the army air corps on March 9, 1943, training at New Cumberland and Miami Beach, Fla. He was graduated from gunnery school at Harlingen Field, Tex. on June 15, 1943, going from there to Keesler Field, Miss., where he received bomber mechanics training. Further training was received at Salt Lake City, Utah, Peterson Field, Colo., Mountain Home, Idaho, where he was qualified as an engineer, and Topeka, Kans.
Excerpt taken from Article in Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA, Thursday, November 9, 1944, Page 16, transcribed by D. Miles
.
Inscription
SSGT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
