B17 crew comes home to Arlington
DocV sends us a link to Stars & Stripes tells the story of the B17 crew, First Lt. John Liekhus, Tech Sgt. John Brady, Tech Sgt. Allen Chandler, Staff Sgt. Bobby Younger, and Staff Sgt. Robert Shoemaker, that was interred together at Arlington this week after they were recovered from a crash site where they were left after they were shot down on November 2, 1944;
The U.S. Army Air Forces airmen were members of the 323rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force. On Nov. 2, 1944, they were part of a nine-man crew that joined an armada of bombers on a mission to Merseburg, Germany and the Leuna Werke, a sprawling chemical factory that produced synthetic fuels.
Their B-17 was hit by flak, or ground, anti-aircraft fire, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. As the B-17 fell out of formation, German fighters attacked. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft burst into flames and then descend rapidly. Three crewmembers survived the crash and were taken prisoner. One of the airmen killed was identified in May 1945; the other five crewmembers were declared missing in action.
On Wednesday, they returned to US soil and were interred together at Arlington National Cemetery.
Category: We Remember
Sometimes, the gov’t gets it right, and this is one of those times. It was diligence and responsiveness that led to the discovery of small fragments of the lost B-17 on a private farm back in 2015. A detailed search that year and the next turned up mortal remains. DPAA then successfully sought family members for DNA comparisons. The result we see in the picture above. Welcome home, men.
Rest in Peace, Warriors.
Welcome home, boys. Catch the tailwind.
Rest in Peace.
Welcome home. They flew and fought together, it’s very fitting that they rest together.
DPAA announced these men’s recovery and accounting in October 2017. Their accounting was previously noted here at TAH later that same month.
Welcome home, elder brothers-in-arms. Rest easy.
Welcome home, men. Rest in peace now.