SSGT Thomas J Appeldorn was the belly gunner & ? illegible
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV
8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group. 66th Squadron.
According to his enlistment in the Army Air Corps papers:
He was single, without dependents; 66 Tall (5 ft 6 in) and weighed 140 lbs.
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Pennsylvania
State of Residence: West Virginia
County or City: Cabell
He enlisted 5 Jan 1942, at Fort Thomas Newport, Kentucky
in the Air Corps as a Private for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Semiskilled tool sharpeners and dressers
The crew departed from the air base at Shipdham, England, and had intended to return there. Their primary target in Brenham, Germany, was an industrial area which was hit with a good pattern. The mission was successful. Weather conditions were quite bad in that it was exceptionally cold, which probably contributed to the collision early in the mission. None of the eleven casualties was caused by enemy action on this mission.
Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.
The members of that fateful crew were:
Trolese, Alexander (NMI), pilot, 1st or 2d Lt. (different
reports) (buried in Ardennes (A-36-54)
home: Richmond, CA.
Harper, James A. co-pilot, 2d Lt.
home: Ellwood City, PA. no burial location listed
Marcouiller, Gordon L. navigator, 2d Lt. buried Ardennes
(D-13-7) home: Chicago, IL
Gates, Jack A. Bombadier 2d Lt.
home: Midland, TX & San Antonio, TX
Lt. Jack A. Gates & TSGT Charlie Krauss share a group grave in the Memphis Natinal Cemetery. They were first interred at Neuville-En-Condrez-Belgium and re-interred at Memphis on 4 Oct 1950. Charlie was a T/Sgt. He was the radio operator and gunner. Since he and Jack Gates, the bombadier, are buried together, it is probable that both were in the nose area of the plane.
Ray, Thomas C. Engineer and & top Turret Gunner
SSgt buried Ardennes (D-18-20) home IL
Krauss, Charles E. Radio Operator & Gunner TSgt.
(buried now at Memphis National Cemetery with Jack
Gates) home: Springfield, PA
Appeldorn, Thomas J Belly gunner & ? illegible SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV
Markus, Edward R. Left Waist Gunner &
Asst. fw gunner SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-37-15) home: Yonkers, NY
Railing, Alton S. Right Waist Gunner &
Asst. Radio Operator SSgt.
no burial location listed: home: Decatur, IN
Wright, Raymond E. Armarrer & Tail Turret Gunner
SSgt. buried Ardennes (C-15-4) home Cincinnati, Ohio
The tail art, Mr. 5X5, (refers to Double 5s rolled with dice in craps and is known as "hard 10" (Ten the hard way--ladies delight or women's best friend..
Also, in radio terminology, Americans wanted an actual rating on the volume and clarity of their transmissions. The standard "Loud and Clear" to an American had to be a "Five by Five" or a "Three by three" depending on the reception. (This information is from Daniel L. Stockton)
If anyone has any additional information, please contact me.
Note, I removed "SSGT" from his name above solely for the purpose of helping people to search for his name.
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV
8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group. 66th Squadron.
According to his enlistment in the Army Air Corps papers:
He was single, without dependents; 66 Tall (5 ft 6 in) and weighed 140 lbs.
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Pennsylvania
State of Residence: West Virginia
County or City: Cabell
He enlisted 5 Jan 1942, at Fort Thomas Newport, Kentucky
in the Air Corps as a Private for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Semiskilled tool sharpeners and dressers
The crew departed from the air base at Shipdham, England, and had intended to return there. Their primary target in Brenham, Germany, was an industrial area which was hit with a good pattern. The mission was successful. Weather conditions were quite bad in that it was exceptionally cold, which probably contributed to the collision early in the mission. None of the eleven casualties was caused by enemy action on this mission.
Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.
The members of that fateful crew were:
Trolese, Alexander (NMI), pilot, 1st or 2d Lt. (different
reports) (buried in Ardennes (A-36-54)
home: Richmond, CA.
Harper, James A. co-pilot, 2d Lt.
home: Ellwood City, PA. no burial location listed
Marcouiller, Gordon L. navigator, 2d Lt. buried Ardennes
(D-13-7) home: Chicago, IL
Gates, Jack A. Bombadier 2d Lt.
home: Midland, TX & San Antonio, TX
Lt. Jack A. Gates & TSGT Charlie Krauss share a group grave in the Memphis Natinal Cemetery. They were first interred at Neuville-En-Condrez-Belgium and re-interred at Memphis on 4 Oct 1950. Charlie was a T/Sgt. He was the radio operator and gunner. Since he and Jack Gates, the bombadier, are buried together, it is probable that both were in the nose area of the plane.
Ray, Thomas C. Engineer and & top Turret Gunner
SSgt buried Ardennes (D-18-20) home IL
Krauss, Charles E. Radio Operator & Gunner TSgt.
(buried now at Memphis National Cemetery with Jack
Gates) home: Springfield, PA
Appeldorn, Thomas J Belly gunner & ? illegible SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV
Markus, Edward R. Left Waist Gunner &
Asst. fw gunner SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-37-15) home: Yonkers, NY
Railing, Alton S. Right Waist Gunner &
Asst. Radio Operator SSgt.
no burial location listed: home: Decatur, IN
Wright, Raymond E. Armarrer & Tail Turret Gunner
SSgt. buried Ardennes (C-15-4) home Cincinnati, Ohio
The tail art, Mr. 5X5, (refers to Double 5s rolled with dice in craps and is known as "hard 10" (Ten the hard way--ladies delight or women's best friend..
Also, in radio terminology, Americans wanted an actual rating on the volume and clarity of their transmissions. The standard "Loud and Clear" to an American had to be a "Five by Five" or a "Three by three" depending on the reception. (This information is from Daniel L. Stockton)
If anyone has any additional information, please contact me.
Note, I removed "SSGT" from his name above solely for the purpose of helping people to search for his name.
SSGT Thomas J Appeldorn was the belly gunner & ? illegible
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV
8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group. 66th Squadron.
According to his enlistment in the Army Air Corps papers:
He was single, without dependents; 66 Tall (5 ft 6 in) and weighed 140 lbs.
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Pennsylvania
State of Residence: West Virginia
County or City: Cabell
He enlisted 5 Jan 1942, at Fort Thomas Newport, Kentucky
in the Air Corps as a Private for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Semiskilled tool sharpeners and dressers
The crew departed from the air base at Shipdham, England, and had intended to return there. Their primary target in Brenham, Germany, was an industrial area which was hit with a good pattern. The mission was successful. Weather conditions were quite bad in that it was exceptionally cold, which probably contributed to the collision early in the mission. None of the eleven casualties was caused by enemy action on this mission.
Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.
The members of that fateful crew were:
Trolese, Alexander (NMI), pilot, 1st or 2d Lt. (different
reports) (buried in Ardennes (A-36-54)
home: Richmond, CA.
Harper, James A. co-pilot, 2d Lt.
home: Ellwood City, PA. no burial location listed
Marcouiller, Gordon L. navigator, 2d Lt. buried Ardennes
(D-13-7) home: Chicago, IL
Gates, Jack A. Bombadier 2d Lt.
home: Midland, TX & San Antonio, TX
Lt. Jack A. Gates & TSGT Charlie Krauss share a group grave in the Memphis Natinal Cemetery. They were first interred at Neuville-En-Condrez-Belgium and re-interred at Memphis on 4 Oct 1950. Charlie was a T/Sgt. He was the radio operator and gunner. Since he and Jack Gates, the bombadier, are buried together, it is probable that both were in the nose area of the plane.
Ray, Thomas C. Engineer and & top Turret Gunner
SSgt buried Ardennes (D-18-20) home IL
Krauss, Charles E. Radio Operator & Gunner TSgt.
(buried now at Memphis National Cemetery with Jack
Gates) home: Springfield, PA
Appeldorn, Thomas J Belly gunner & ? illegible SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV
Markus, Edward R. Left Waist Gunner &
Asst. fw gunner SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-37-15) home: Yonkers, NY
Railing, Alton S. Right Waist Gunner &
Asst. Radio Operator SSgt.
no burial location listed: home: Decatur, IN
Wright, Raymond E. Armarrer & Tail Turret Gunner
SSgt. buried Ardennes (C-15-4) home Cincinnati, Ohio
The tail art, Mr. 5X5, (refers to Double 5s rolled with dice in craps and is known as "hard 10" (Ten the hard way--ladies delight or women's best friend..
Also, in radio terminology, Americans wanted an actual rating on the volume and clarity of their transmissions. The standard "Loud and Clear" to an American had to be a "Five by Five" or a "Three by three" depending on the reception. (This information is from Daniel L. Stockton)
If anyone has any additional information, please contact me.
Note, I removed "SSGT" from his name above solely for the purpose of helping people to search for his name.
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV
8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group. 66th Squadron.
According to his enlistment in the Army Air Corps papers:
He was single, without dependents; 66 Tall (5 ft 6 in) and weighed 140 lbs.
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Pennsylvania
State of Residence: West Virginia
County or City: Cabell
He enlisted 5 Jan 1942, at Fort Thomas Newport, Kentucky
in the Air Corps as a Private for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Semiskilled tool sharpeners and dressers
The crew departed from the air base at Shipdham, England, and had intended to return there. Their primary target in Brenham, Germany, was an industrial area which was hit with a good pattern. The mission was successful. Weather conditions were quite bad in that it was exceptionally cold, which probably contributed to the collision early in the mission. None of the eleven casualties was caused by enemy action on this mission.
Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.
The members of that fateful crew were:
Trolese, Alexander (NMI), pilot, 1st or 2d Lt. (different
reports) (buried in Ardennes (A-36-54)
home: Richmond, CA.
Harper, James A. co-pilot, 2d Lt.
home: Ellwood City, PA. no burial location listed
Marcouiller, Gordon L. navigator, 2d Lt. buried Ardennes
(D-13-7) home: Chicago, IL
Gates, Jack A. Bombadier 2d Lt.
home: Midland, TX & San Antonio, TX
Lt. Jack A. Gates & TSGT Charlie Krauss share a group grave in the Memphis Natinal Cemetery. They were first interred at Neuville-En-Condrez-Belgium and re-interred at Memphis on 4 Oct 1950. Charlie was a T/Sgt. He was the radio operator and gunner. Since he and Jack Gates, the bombadier, are buried together, it is probable that both were in the nose area of the plane.
Ray, Thomas C. Engineer and & top Turret Gunner
SSgt buried Ardennes (D-18-20) home IL
Krauss, Charles E. Radio Operator & Gunner TSgt.
(buried now at Memphis National Cemetery with Jack
Gates) home: Springfield, PA
Appeldorn, Thomas J Belly gunner & ? illegible SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV
Markus, Edward R. Left Waist Gunner &
Asst. fw gunner SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-37-15) home: Yonkers, NY
Railing, Alton S. Right Waist Gunner &
Asst. Radio Operator SSgt.
no burial location listed: home: Decatur, IN
Wright, Raymond E. Armarrer & Tail Turret Gunner
SSgt. buried Ardennes (C-15-4) home Cincinnati, Ohio
The tail art, Mr. 5X5, (refers to Double 5s rolled with dice in craps and is known as "hard 10" (Ten the hard way--ladies delight or women's best friend..
Also, in radio terminology, Americans wanted an actual rating on the volume and clarity of their transmissions. The standard "Loud and Clear" to an American had to be a "Five by Five" or a "Three by three" depending on the reception. (This information is from Daniel L. Stockton)
If anyone has any additional information, please contact me.
Note, I removed "SSGT" from his name above solely for the purpose of helping people to search for his name.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from West Virginia.
Family Members
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