T/Sgt. Herman B. Krimminger. Tailgunner aboard B-17Gs "Snake Eyes" and the "Lady Jeanette". Died in combat 9Nov1944 on a mission to bomb marshalling yards in Northern France. Both pilots, Lt.s Gott & Metzger were posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for attempting to save the life of the top turret gunner who had half of his arm blown off by flak, was unconscious and therefore unable to bail out. The "Lady Jeanette" was heavily crippled by flak and only had 2 working engines left. Unable to toggle the bomb load due to damage, they made the decision to try and limp the plane to a B-25 base near Paris. The tail section was heavily damaged and my Uncle's chute was damaged trying to move from his position to the exit door behind the right waist window. Other crew helped him gather it in his arms and watched as he jumped out and had his chute rigging caught up in the jagged section of the rear wing. The rest of the crew was able to successfully bail out and land safely in allied held territory. My Uncle rode to his death during the crash landing in a forest where the trees ripped him and the plane apart. The bomb load exploded upon impact with the ground and according to US Army Graves Registration, my Uncle's remains were the only identifiable remains to he found and there are pieces of him in all of the 4 official graves for the crew that died. My Uncle's official grave is in Arlington National Cemetery and I cry every time I visit. I received all of this information from the Radio Operator named Russell Gustafason whom I met many years ago when a book was being written about the dual MOH winners on one flight. Not every one of these heroes died an honorable death. Movies, books and TV shows cannot truly convey the horrors these boys faced daily. Eyewitnesses accounts from the ground actually heard my Uncle screaming as the plane neared the trees. Never can we do enough to honor their sacrifice but I have the deepest respect and admiration for the people that restore and keep these bombers alive.