Alan served as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on B-17F " Yo' Brother " #42-29709, 326th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided on Harris Road, Webster, Monroe County, New York prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet on July 11, 1941, prior to the war, in Rochester, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Salesperson and also as Single, without dependents.

B-17F #42-29709 took off, with a crew of 10, on a bombing mission over Rennes, France. Over the target they were hit by flak prior to trying to return to base. They ended up crashing into the sea near Norderney Island with an engine on fire. The entire crew was lost.

Alan was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-435683

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17 #42-29709:

Cates, Velgene V. ~ F/O, Co-Pilot, CA
Corkery, Cornelius V. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY
DeMasters, Earl N. ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, TX
Ellenburg, James T. ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
Hermance, Alan E. ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, NY
Landers, Walter L., Jr. ~ Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, GA
Lauffer, Oliver P. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, IL
Semrad, Marion F. ~ Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, WI
Smith, William W. ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, LA
West, Theodore A. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, PA

( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

Alan served as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on B-17F " Yo' Brother " #42-29709, 326th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided on Harris Road, Webster, Monroe County, New York prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet on July 11, 1941, prior to the war, in Rochester, New York. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Salesperson and also as Single, without dependents.

B-17F #42-29709 took off, with a crew of 10, on a bombing mission over Rennes, France. Over the target they were hit by flak prior to trying to return to base. They ended up crashing into the sea near Norderney Island with an engine on fire. The entire crew was lost.

Alan was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-435683

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17 #42-29709:

Cates, Velgene V. ~ F/O, Co-Pilot, CA
Corkery, Cornelius V. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY
DeMasters, Earl N. ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, TX
Ellenburg, James T. ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
Hermance, Alan E. ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, NY
Landers, Walter L., Jr. ~ Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, GA
Lauffer, Oliver P. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, IL
Semrad, Marion F. ~ Sgt, Left Waist Gunner, WI
Smith, William W. ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, LA
West, Theodore A. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, PA

( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )