Navigator Fl/Of. Haigus Tufenkjian KIA
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 854th Sq. 491st Bomb Group
Service #T-125660
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart.
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Norman J. Rogers Jr. KIA
Target: Hanover, Germany
Date Lost: 26-Aug-44
Serial Number:# 42 -110107
Aircraft Model B-24J
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:" Wham! Bam! Thank You , Ma'm "
Location: RUSSELSHEIM
Cause: anti-aircraft fire Crew of 9 6KIA 3POW
THE RUSSELSHEIM MASSACRE
The Wham! Bam! At that time was part of the largest formation of aircraft ever to leave England: Approaching the target they ran into heavy anti-aircraft fire. Just after releasing their bombs right on target the plane took several burst of flak. One direct hit in the bomb bay area knocked out the hydraulic system, one engine, and damaged two other engines. The bail out order was given. The crew landed in a farm area. Brininstool had suffered a shrapnel wound in the stomach, and was very fortunate when a farm couple took him in and cleaned his wound. The rest of the crew was rounded up by Luftwaffe personnel and placed in a cell in the town hall. Dumont and Rogers suffered ankle injuries. The captured crew was taken by train to a German Air Force base near Munster. Brininstool was taken to a clinic where a Doctor operated on his stomach wound, then placed in a hospital in Munster for further treatment. He was then taken by guards to a POW interrogation center near Frankfurt. The remaining eight crewmembers while on a 12 hour train ride ran into a bombed out section of track near Russelsheim and were forced to detrain. The guards escorted the airmen toward Russelsheim expecting to catch another train beyond the damaged area. A large violent crowd quickly formed and immediately turned into an uncontrollable mob who started beating the airmen with sticks, rocks, and shovels. The group was joined by a German air-raid warden, Josef Hartgen, who was armed with a 6.35mm pistol. Six crew were executed by Hartnman and the civilian mob. Sgt. William M. Adams, and Sgt. Sidney E. Brown survived and escaped, later to be recaptured. The crew originally consisted of nine, with S/Sgt. Brininstool wounded and sent to a German hospital six were executed.
The " Wham! Bam! Thank You , Ma'm " crew
1st/Lt. Norman J. Rogers Jr. Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John N. Sekul Co Pilot KIA
Fl/Of. Haigus Tufenkjian Navigator KIA
S/Sgt.Forrest W. Brininstool Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Thomas D. Williams, Jr Radio Op. KIA
Sgt. William A. Dumont Gunner KIA
Sgt. Elmore L. Austin Gunner
S/Sgt. William M. Adams Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Sidney E. Brown Gunner POW
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 854th Sq. 491st Bomb Group
Service #T-125660
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart.
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Norman J. Rogers Jr. KIA
Target: Hanover, Germany
Date Lost: 26-Aug-44
Serial Number:# 42 -110107
Aircraft Model B-24J
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:" Wham! Bam! Thank You , Ma'm "
Location: RUSSELSHEIM
Cause: anti-aircraft fire Crew of 9 6KIA 3POW
THE RUSSELSHEIM MASSACRE
The Wham! Bam! At that time was part of the largest formation of aircraft ever to leave England: Approaching the target they ran into heavy anti-aircraft fire. Just after releasing their bombs right on target the plane took several burst of flak. One direct hit in the bomb bay area knocked out the hydraulic system, one engine, and damaged two other engines. The bail out order was given. The crew landed in a farm area. Brininstool had suffered a shrapnel wound in the stomach, and was very fortunate when a farm couple took him in and cleaned his wound. The rest of the crew was rounded up by Luftwaffe personnel and placed in a cell in the town hall. Dumont and Rogers suffered ankle injuries. The captured crew was taken by train to a German Air Force base near Munster. Brininstool was taken to a clinic where a Doctor operated on his stomach wound, then placed in a hospital in Munster for further treatment. He was then taken by guards to a POW interrogation center near Frankfurt. The remaining eight crewmembers while on a 12 hour train ride ran into a bombed out section of track near Russelsheim and were forced to detrain. The guards escorted the airmen toward Russelsheim expecting to catch another train beyond the damaged area. A large violent crowd quickly formed and immediately turned into an uncontrollable mob who started beating the airmen with sticks, rocks, and shovels. The group was joined by a German air-raid warden, Josef Hartgen, who was armed with a 6.35mm pistol. Six crew were executed by Hartnman and the civilian mob. Sgt. William M. Adams, and Sgt. Sidney E. Brown survived and escaped, later to be recaptured. The crew originally consisted of nine, with S/Sgt. Brininstool wounded and sent to a German hospital six were executed.
The " Wham! Bam! Thank You , Ma'm " crew
1st/Lt. Norman J. Rogers Jr. Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John N. Sekul Co Pilot KIA
Fl/Of. Haigus Tufenkjian Navigator KIA
S/Sgt.Forrest W. Brininstool Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Thomas D. Williams, Jr Radio Op. KIA
Sgt. William A. Dumont Gunner KIA
Sgt. Elmore L. Austin Gunner
S/Sgt. William M. Adams Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Sidney E. Brown Gunner POW
Navigator Fl/Of. Haigus Tufenkjian KIA
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 854th Sq. 491st Bomb Group
Service #T-125660
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart.
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Norman J. Rogers Jr. KIA
Target: Hanover, Germany
Date Lost: 26-Aug-44
Serial Number:# 42 -110107
Aircraft Model B-24J
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:" Wham! Bam! Thank You , Ma'm "
Location: RUSSELSHEIM
Cause: anti-aircraft fire Crew of 9 6KIA 3POW
THE RUSSELSHEIM MASSACRE
The Wham! Bam! At that time was part of the largest formation of aircraft ever to leave England: Approaching the target they ran into heavy anti-aircraft fire. Just after releasing their bombs right on target the plane took several burst of flak. One direct hit in the bomb bay area knocked out the hydraulic system, one engine, and damaged two other engines. The bail out order was given. The crew landed in a farm area. Brininstool had suffered a shrapnel wound in the stomach, and was very fortunate when a farm couple took him in and cleaned his wound. The rest of the crew was rounded up by Luftwaffe personnel and placed in a cell in the town hall. Dumont and Rogers suffered ankle injuries. The captured crew was taken by train to a German Air Force base near Munster. Brininstool was taken to a clinic where a Doctor operated on his stomach wound, then placed in a hospital in Munster for further treatment. He was then taken by guards to a POW interrogation center near Frankfurt. The remaining eight crewmembers while on a 12 hour train ride ran into a bombed out section of track near Russelsheim and were forced to detrain. The guards escorted the airmen toward Russelsheim expecting to catch another train beyond the damaged area. A large violent crowd quickly formed and immediately turned into an uncontrollable mob who started beating the airmen with sticks, rocks, and shovels. The group was joined by a German air-raid warden, Josef Hartgen, who was armed with a 6.35mm pistol. Six crew were executed by Hartnman and the civilian mob. Sgt. William M. Adams, and Sgt. Sidney E. Brown survived and escaped, later to be recaptured. The crew originally consisted of nine, with S/Sgt. Brininstool wounded and sent to a German hospital six were executed.
The " Wham! Bam! Thank You , Ma'm " crew
1st/Lt. Norman J. Rogers Jr. Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John N. Sekul Co Pilot KIA
Fl/Of. Haigus Tufenkjian Navigator KIA
S/Sgt.Forrest W. Brininstool Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Thomas D. Williams, Jr Radio Op. KIA
Sgt. William A. Dumont Gunner KIA
Sgt. Elmore L. Austin Gunner
S/Sgt. William M. Adams Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Sidney E. Brown Gunner POW
Hometown: Michigan
Squadron: 854th Sq. 491st Bomb Group
Service #T-125660
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart.
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Norman J. Rogers Jr. KIA
Target: Hanover, Germany
Date Lost: 26-Aug-44
Serial Number:# 42 -110107
Aircraft Model B-24J
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:" Wham! Bam! Thank You , Ma'm "
Location: RUSSELSHEIM
Cause: anti-aircraft fire Crew of 9 6KIA 3POW
THE RUSSELSHEIM MASSACRE
The Wham! Bam! At that time was part of the largest formation of aircraft ever to leave England: Approaching the target they ran into heavy anti-aircraft fire. Just after releasing their bombs right on target the plane took several burst of flak. One direct hit in the bomb bay area knocked out the hydraulic system, one engine, and damaged two other engines. The bail out order was given. The crew landed in a farm area. Brininstool had suffered a shrapnel wound in the stomach, and was very fortunate when a farm couple took him in and cleaned his wound. The rest of the crew was rounded up by Luftwaffe personnel and placed in a cell in the town hall. Dumont and Rogers suffered ankle injuries. The captured crew was taken by train to a German Air Force base near Munster. Brininstool was taken to a clinic where a Doctor operated on his stomach wound, then placed in a hospital in Munster for further treatment. He was then taken by guards to a POW interrogation center near Frankfurt. The remaining eight crewmembers while on a 12 hour train ride ran into a bombed out section of track near Russelsheim and were forced to detrain. The guards escorted the airmen toward Russelsheim expecting to catch another train beyond the damaged area. A large violent crowd quickly formed and immediately turned into an uncontrollable mob who started beating the airmen with sticks, rocks, and shovels. The group was joined by a German air-raid warden, Josef Hartgen, who was armed with a 6.35mm pistol. Six crew were executed by Hartnman and the civilian mob. Sgt. William M. Adams, and Sgt. Sidney E. Brown survived and escaped, later to be recaptured. The crew originally consisted of nine, with S/Sgt. Brininstool wounded and sent to a German hospital six were executed.
The " Wham! Bam! Thank You , Ma'm " crew
1st/Lt. Norman J. Rogers Jr. Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John N. Sekul Co Pilot KIA
Fl/Of. Haigus Tufenkjian Navigator KIA
S/Sgt.Forrest W. Brininstool Engineer POW
S/Sgt. Thomas D. Williams, Jr Radio Op. KIA
Sgt. William A. Dumont Gunner KIA
Sgt. Elmore L. Austin Gunner
S/Sgt. William M. Adams Gunner POW
S/Sgt. Sidney E. Brown Gunner POW
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Michigan.
Family Members
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