His crew took off on a training flight mere days before they were scheduled to go overseas
Category: U.S. Army Air Forces
1st Lieutenant Louis J. Deputy (1918–1944)
An Eighth Air Force copilot who was most of the way through his combat tour when he took off for a night training flight with another crew
Staff Sergeant Louis Di Martino (1922–1944)
An Italian immigrant and shipyard worker who became a B-24 gunner flying missions based at a field in his old homeland
1st Lieutenant Harry M. First (1915–1944)
The son of a rabbi, this Fifteenth Air Force navigator was close to completing his 50-mission tour when he took off for Austria
Private Dick M. Appel (1912–1942)
A pursuit squadron ground crew member lost in the fall of the Philippines, his body still has not been recovered
Private 1st Class William K. Baynard (1917–1943)
A prewar volunteer who became a member of one of the first U.S. Army radar units
Technical Sergeant Harry N. Russell (1924–1944)
When his bomber lost two engines during a night mission, this airman was forced to make a split-second decision
Private Charles R. Wilson (1921–1943)
After being court-martialed for desertion, this Delawarean got another chance
Staff Sergeant Dougal M. Beatson (1919–1944)
It was the first combat mission for this young Eighth Air Force gunner
Staff Sergeant Lester D. Warren (1915–1944)
A B-24 tail gunner and father of a young son whose plane was hit over France
