Paul Baum grew up in Sandusky, Ohio. He played football for Sandusky High where he graduated in 1935 and was a locally admired baseball player on his team at US Gypsum where he worked before the war. Paul trained as a bombardier in 1943 and was stationed at the American air base at Shipdham, England. His 9th and final mission was over southwestern France. After successfully destroying the target at a German airdrome at Mont-de-Marsan, Lt. Baum's aircraft was struck by artillery fire and broke apart just off the coast of France. One of the crew who survived related Lt. Baum's fate after the aircraft hit the water and broke in two:
"...bombardier Paul Baum was out of the nose section and swimming near me, but he soon sank and I never saw him again. The Germans picked up his body the next day, and I was told that he had bullet holes in him--seven of them..."
The Germans returned his body through the Red Cross. His widow Verone decided to inter Lt. Baum at an American Cemetery in France. He and his crew have been honored by a memorial plaque and ceremony in the seaside town of Capbreton near where his plane crashed in the ocean.
Lt. Baum was a bombardier in the 8th Army Air Corps, 44th Bombardment Group, 66th Bombardment Squadron.
For his temporary grave in Mont-de-Marsan please see FAG # 117630104
"...bombardier Paul Baum was out of the nose section and swimming near me, but he soon sank and I never saw him again. The Germans picked up his body the next day, and I was told that he had bullet holes in him--seven of them..."
The Germans returned his body through the Red Cross. His widow Verone decided to inter Lt. Baum at an American Cemetery in France. He and his crew have been honored by a memorial plaque and ceremony in the seaside town of Capbreton near where his plane crashed in the ocean.
Lt. Baum was a bombardier in the 8th Army Air Corps, 44th Bombardment Group, 66th Bombardment Squadron.
For his temporary grave in Mont-de-Marsan please see FAG # 117630104
Paul Baum grew up in Sandusky, Ohio. He played football for Sandusky High where he graduated in 1935 and was a locally admired baseball player on his team at US Gypsum where he worked before the war. Paul trained as a bombardier in 1943 and was stationed at the American air base at Shipdham, England. His 9th and final mission was over southwestern France. After successfully destroying the target at a German airdrome at Mont-de-Marsan, Lt. Baum's aircraft was struck by artillery fire and broke apart just off the coast of France. One of the crew who survived related Lt. Baum's fate after the aircraft hit the water and broke in two:
"...bombardier Paul Baum was out of the nose section and swimming near me, but he soon sank and I never saw him again. The Germans picked up his body the next day, and I was told that he had bullet holes in him--seven of them..."
The Germans returned his body through the Red Cross. His widow Verone decided to inter Lt. Baum at an American Cemetery in France. He and his crew have been honored by a memorial plaque and ceremony in the seaside town of Capbreton near where his plane crashed in the ocean.
Lt. Baum was a bombardier in the 8th Army Air Corps, 44th Bombardment Group, 66th Bombardment Squadron.
For his temporary grave in Mont-de-Marsan please see FAG # 117630104
"...bombardier Paul Baum was out of the nose section and swimming near me, but he soon sank and I never saw him again. The Germans picked up his body the next day, and I was told that he had bullet holes in him--seven of them..."
The Germans returned his body through the Red Cross. His widow Verone decided to inter Lt. Baum at an American Cemetery in France. He and his crew have been honored by a memorial plaque and ceremony in the seaside town of Capbreton near where his plane crashed in the ocean.
Lt. Baum was a bombardier in the 8th Army Air Corps, 44th Bombardment Group, 66th Bombardment Squadron.
For his temporary grave in Mont-de-Marsan please see FAG # 117630104
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Ohio.
