On 22 February 1944, a crew of ten in a B-17 named MOJO left on a mission to bomb the Junkers aircraft motor factory in Halberstadt, Germany. Due to bad weather, many of the aircraft in the lead squadron of the 379th Bomb Group, diverted and dropped their bombs on Werngrade, Germany. The aircraft was among them and it took a direct flak hit to the bomb bay. Capt. Simons was able to give an order for the crew to check parachutes before the aircraft exploded, killing 7 of the 10 member crew. Only 1st Lt. William Bonin (bombardier), S/Sgt. Rufus W. Till (right waist gunner) and T/Sgt. Raymond W. Veiders, Jr (tail gunner) survived.
Crew members who survived the crash and became prisoners of war until 20 Jul 1945:
1st Lt William Bonin Bombardier
SSgt Rufus W Till Right Waist Gunner
Tech Sgt Raymond W. Veiders, Jr Tail Gunner
Crew members who died on 22 Feb 1944:
Capt Harry Richard Simons Pilot
1st Lieut John H Robins Pilot
2nd Lieut Robert W Jones Navigator
Sgt Donald Percy Harmon Ball Turret
SSgt Leo S Borkowski Waist Gunner
Sgt James F Fallon Engineer-Top Turret
Tech Sgt Ole K Nelson Radio Operator
Crew members who survived the crash and became prisoners of war until 20 Jul 1945:
1st Lt William Bonin Bombardier
SSgt Rufus W Till Right Waist Gunner
Tech Sgt Raymond W. Veiders, Jr Tail Gunner
Crew members who died on 22 Feb 1944:
Capt Harry Richard Simons Pilot
1st Lieut John H Robins Pilot
2nd Lieut Robert W Jones Navigator
Sgt Donald Percy Harmon Ball Turret
SSgt Leo S Borkowski Waist Gunner
Sgt James F Fallon Engineer-Top Turret
Tech Sgt Ole K Nelson Radio Operator
On 22 February 1944, a crew of ten in a B-17 named MOJO left on a mission to bomb the Junkers aircraft motor factory in Halberstadt, Germany. Due to bad weather, many of the aircraft in the lead squadron of the 379th Bomb Group, diverted and dropped their bombs on Werngrade, Germany. The aircraft was among them and it took a direct flak hit to the bomb bay. Capt. Simons was able to give an order for the crew to check parachutes before the aircraft exploded, killing 7 of the 10 member crew. Only 1st Lt. William Bonin (bombardier), S/Sgt. Rufus W. Till (right waist gunner) and T/Sgt. Raymond W. Veiders, Jr (tail gunner) survived.
Crew members who survived the crash and became prisoners of war until 20 Jul 1945:
1st Lt William Bonin Bombardier
SSgt Rufus W Till Right Waist Gunner
Tech Sgt Raymond W. Veiders, Jr Tail Gunner
Crew members who died on 22 Feb 1944:
Capt Harry Richard Simons Pilot
1st Lieut John H Robins Pilot
2nd Lieut Robert W Jones Navigator
Sgt Donald Percy Harmon Ball Turret
SSgt Leo S Borkowski Waist Gunner
Sgt James F Fallon Engineer-Top Turret
Tech Sgt Ole K Nelson Radio Operator
Crew members who survived the crash and became prisoners of war until 20 Jul 1945:
1st Lt William Bonin Bombardier
SSgt Rufus W Till Right Waist Gunner
Tech Sgt Raymond W. Veiders, Jr Tail Gunner
Crew members who died on 22 Feb 1944:
Capt Harry Richard Simons Pilot
1st Lieut John H Robins Pilot
2nd Lieut Robert W Jones Navigator
Sgt Donald Percy Harmon Ball Turret
SSgt Leo S Borkowski Waist Gunner
Sgt James F Fallon Engineer-Top Turret
Tech Sgt Ole K Nelson Radio Operator
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Virginia.
Family Members
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