Flight Officer, 338th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, World War II.
Navigator aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-102515.
Killed In Action when his bomber was struck by another B-17 (#42-97269) and was cut in half, and crashed near Villy-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Tréport, France. Missing Air Crew Report № 5161.
What caused it to explode and fall into the other B-17 seems to be uncertain.
The crew KIA were:
1st Lt. Joseph A Borkowski, O-810808, RI, Pilot
2nd Lt. Walter L Hester, O-818870, CA, Co-Pilot
Flt. Off. William C Ahearn, T-123281, IL, Navigator
1st Lt. Theodore R Ream, O2047740, PA, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Ross W Welch, 32832602, NY, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. William A Anderson, unknown, VA, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Ralph I Bazell, 35658272, OH, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Ralph C Hagenmaier, KS, Armorer/Gunner
Only the flight engineer/top turret gunner and the tail gunner survived when they were both sucked out of the broken fuselage.
For the crewmembers of B-17 #42-97269 see the memorial for Lt. James E. McLaughlin
~
Enlisted at Chicago, IL, August 13, 1942.
Chicago Tribune 6/2/1949 Abstract
William Cyril Ahearn, F.O. U.S.A.F., Dieppe, France, son of William J, and Ellen M., nee Gallagher, brother of Robert W., Mrs. Helen O'Brien, Mrs. Vera Cullen, Patrick J., Kathleen and Donald Ahearn. Funeral Sat., 8:45 a.m., from chapel, 9500 Commercial av. To St. Bride's church. Interment Mount Olivet.
Navigator aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-102515.
Killed In Action when his bomber was struck by another B-17 (#42-97269) and was cut in half, and crashed near Villy-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Tréport, France. Missing Air Crew Report № 5161.
What caused it to explode and fall into the other B-17 seems to be uncertain.
The crew KIA were:
1st Lt. Joseph A Borkowski, O-810808, RI, Pilot
2nd Lt. Walter L Hester, O-818870, CA, Co-Pilot
Flt. Off. William C Ahearn, T-123281, IL, Navigator
1st Lt. Theodore R Ream, O2047740, PA, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Ross W Welch, 32832602, NY, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. William A Anderson, unknown, VA, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Ralph I Bazell, 35658272, OH, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Ralph C Hagenmaier, KS, Armorer/Gunner
Only the flight engineer/top turret gunner and the tail gunner survived when they were both sucked out of the broken fuselage.
For the crewmembers of B-17 #42-97269 see the memorial for Lt. James E. McLaughlin
~
Enlisted at Chicago, IL, August 13, 1942.
Chicago Tribune 6/2/1949 Abstract
William Cyril Ahearn, F.O. U.S.A.F., Dieppe, France, son of William J, and Ellen M., nee Gallagher, brother of Robert W., Mrs. Helen O'Brien, Mrs. Vera Cullen, Patrick J., Kathleen and Donald Ahearn. Funeral Sat., 8:45 a.m., from chapel, 9500 Commercial av. To St. Bride's church. Interment Mount Olivet.
Flight Officer, 338th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, World War II.
Navigator aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-102515.
Killed In Action when his bomber was struck by another B-17 (#42-97269) and was cut in half, and crashed near Villy-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Tréport, France. Missing Air Crew Report № 5161.
What caused it to explode and fall into the other B-17 seems to be uncertain.
The crew KIA were:
1st Lt. Joseph A Borkowski, O-810808, RI, Pilot
2nd Lt. Walter L Hester, O-818870, CA, Co-Pilot
Flt. Off. William C Ahearn, T-123281, IL, Navigator
1st Lt. Theodore R Ream, O2047740, PA, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Ross W Welch, 32832602, NY, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. William A Anderson, unknown, VA, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Ralph I Bazell, 35658272, OH, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Ralph C Hagenmaier, KS, Armorer/Gunner
Only the flight engineer/top turret gunner and the tail gunner survived when they were both sucked out of the broken fuselage.
For the crewmembers of B-17 #42-97269 see the memorial for Lt. James E. McLaughlin
~
Enlisted at Chicago, IL, August 13, 1942.
Chicago Tribune 6/2/1949 Abstract
William Cyril Ahearn, F.O. U.S.A.F., Dieppe, France, son of William J, and Ellen M., nee Gallagher, brother of Robert W., Mrs. Helen O'Brien, Mrs. Vera Cullen, Patrick J., Kathleen and Donald Ahearn. Funeral Sat., 8:45 a.m., from chapel, 9500 Commercial av. To St. Bride's church. Interment Mount Olivet.
Navigator aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-102515.
Killed In Action when his bomber was struck by another B-17 (#42-97269) and was cut in half, and crashed near Villy-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Tréport, France. Missing Air Crew Report № 5161.
What caused it to explode and fall into the other B-17 seems to be uncertain.
The crew KIA were:
1st Lt. Joseph A Borkowski, O-810808, RI, Pilot
2nd Lt. Walter L Hester, O-818870, CA, Co-Pilot
Flt. Off. William C Ahearn, T-123281, IL, Navigator
1st Lt. Theodore R Ream, O2047740, PA, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Ross W Welch, 32832602, NY, Right Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. William A Anderson, unknown, VA, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Ralph I Bazell, 35658272, OH, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Ralph C Hagenmaier, KS, Armorer/Gunner
Only the flight engineer/top turret gunner and the tail gunner survived when they were both sucked out of the broken fuselage.
For the crewmembers of B-17 #42-97269 see the memorial for Lt. James E. McLaughlin
~
Enlisted at Chicago, IL, August 13, 1942.
Chicago Tribune 6/2/1949 Abstract
William Cyril Ahearn, F.O. U.S.A.F., Dieppe, France, son of William J, and Ellen M., nee Gallagher, brother of Robert W., Mrs. Helen O'Brien, Mrs. Vera Cullen, Patrick J., Kathleen and Donald Ahearn. Funeral Sat., 8:45 a.m., from chapel, 9500 Commercial av. To St. Bride's church. Interment Mount Olivet.
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