Reburied 18 June 1949.
===========================================================
Lt. Lowell A Doan was the bombardier of the B-17G bomber "Maid To Please", S/N 42-31173, 447 Bomb Group, 711 bomb Squadron, based in Rattlesden, England during WWII.
On December 30, 1943, the group put 20 aircraft into the air on a mission to bomb chemical factories in Ludwigshaven, Germany. This was only the second combat mission for the group, having arrived in England late in November. It was the group's first mission over Germany itself.
The "Maid To Please" was able to bomb the target despite a tremendous flak barrage and determined attacks by Luftwaffe fighters. After the bomb run a flak hit in the bomb bay killed the radio operator and started a fire; another flak hit in the nose of the plane killed Lt. Doan and the navigator.
The pilot, Lt. Julian Schrero, heroically kept the crippled plane in the air until they were northeast of Paris. Over Hénonville, France the plane began to go out of control so Lt. Schrero ordered the remaining crew to bail out. Tragically, Lt. Schrero couldn't escape the aircraft and was killed in the crash. Of the surviving crew, 5 were captured and spent the remainder of the war in POW camps, one evaded capture and eventually made it back to England.
The loss of the "Maid To Please" was the first combat loss for the 447th BG.
Today, a monument stands on the spot where the "Maid To Please" crashed to honor the four men who perished. The inscription on the memorial, loosely translated, reads "Always remember, they died for our freedom".
Lt. Doan, thank you and your crewmates for your service and your sacrifice. This grateful nation will always remember.
===========================================================
Lt. Lowell A Doan was the bombardier of the B-17G bomber "Maid To Please", S/N 42-31173, 447 Bomb Group, 711 bomb Squadron, based in Rattlesden, England during WWII.
On December 30, 1943, the group put 20 aircraft into the air on a mission to bomb chemical factories in Ludwigshaven, Germany. This was only the second combat mission for the group, having arrived in England late in November. It was the group's first mission over Germany itself.
The "Maid To Please" was able to bomb the target despite a tremendous flak barrage and determined attacks by Luftwaffe fighters. After the bomb run a flak hit in the bomb bay killed the radio operator and started a fire; another flak hit in the nose of the plane killed Lt. Doan and the navigator.
The pilot, Lt. Julian Schrero, heroically kept the crippled plane in the air until they were northeast of Paris. Over Hénonville, France the plane began to go out of control so Lt. Schrero ordered the remaining crew to bail out. Tragically, Lt. Schrero couldn't escape the aircraft and was killed in the crash. Of the surviving crew, 5 were captured and spent the remainder of the war in POW camps, one evaded capture and eventually made it back to England.
The loss of the "Maid To Please" was the first combat loss for the 447th BG.
Today, a monument stands on the spot where the "Maid To Please" crashed to honor the four men who perished. The inscription on the memorial, loosely translated, reads "Always remember, they died for our freedom".
Lt. Doan, thank you and your crewmates for your service and your sacrifice. This grateful nation will always remember.
Reburied 18 June 1949.
===========================================================
Lt. Lowell A Doan was the bombardier of the B-17G bomber "Maid To Please", S/N 42-31173, 447 Bomb Group, 711 bomb Squadron, based in Rattlesden, England during WWII.
On December 30, 1943, the group put 20 aircraft into the air on a mission to bomb chemical factories in Ludwigshaven, Germany. This was only the second combat mission for the group, having arrived in England late in November. It was the group's first mission over Germany itself.
The "Maid To Please" was able to bomb the target despite a tremendous flak barrage and determined attacks by Luftwaffe fighters. After the bomb run a flak hit in the bomb bay killed the radio operator and started a fire; another flak hit in the nose of the plane killed Lt. Doan and the navigator.
The pilot, Lt. Julian Schrero, heroically kept the crippled plane in the air until they were northeast of Paris. Over Hénonville, France the plane began to go out of control so Lt. Schrero ordered the remaining crew to bail out. Tragically, Lt. Schrero couldn't escape the aircraft and was killed in the crash. Of the surviving crew, 5 were captured and spent the remainder of the war in POW camps, one evaded capture and eventually made it back to England.
The loss of the "Maid To Please" was the first combat loss for the 447th BG.
Today, a monument stands on the spot where the "Maid To Please" crashed to honor the four men who perished. The inscription on the memorial, loosely translated, reads "Always remember, they died for our freedom".
Lt. Doan, thank you and your crewmates for your service and your sacrifice. This grateful nation will always remember.
===========================================================
Lt. Lowell A Doan was the bombardier of the B-17G bomber "Maid To Please", S/N 42-31173, 447 Bomb Group, 711 bomb Squadron, based in Rattlesden, England during WWII.
On December 30, 1943, the group put 20 aircraft into the air on a mission to bomb chemical factories in Ludwigshaven, Germany. This was only the second combat mission for the group, having arrived in England late in November. It was the group's first mission over Germany itself.
The "Maid To Please" was able to bomb the target despite a tremendous flak barrage and determined attacks by Luftwaffe fighters. After the bomb run a flak hit in the bomb bay killed the radio operator and started a fire; another flak hit in the nose of the plane killed Lt. Doan and the navigator.
The pilot, Lt. Julian Schrero, heroically kept the crippled plane in the air until they were northeast of Paris. Over Hénonville, France the plane began to go out of control so Lt. Schrero ordered the remaining crew to bail out. Tragically, Lt. Schrero couldn't escape the aircraft and was killed in the crash. Of the surviving crew, 5 were captured and spent the remainder of the war in POW camps, one evaded capture and eventually made it back to England.
The loss of the "Maid To Please" was the first combat loss for the 447th BG.
Today, a monument stands on the spot where the "Maid To Please" crashed to honor the four men who perished. The inscription on the memorial, loosely translated, reads "Always remember, they died for our freedom".
Lt. Doan, thank you and your crewmates for your service and your sacrifice. This grateful nation will always remember.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
