Gunner Sgt. James Jamar Jr. KIA
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #18248937
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade MIA/KIA
Target: MAGDEBURG Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #12216
Date Lost: 9-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-28841
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "Z-Plus"
Aircraft Name: "THE PHILLY FOLLY" 1stMission
Location: North Sea
Cause: Unknown Crew of 9KIA
For the third straight mission, the vital oil refineries north of the city were ordered for strikes. On this raid, the 392nd led the entire 2nd Air Division and forecast clear weather promised good bombing efforts. Colonel Johnson flew in the lead aircraft as Command Pilot of the mission. Between 0445-0600 hours, (30) crews were given general briefings. At 0800, Group bombers began launch with assembly of the formation being orderly. Enroute, however, towering cumulus forced the Group formation to climb to 25,000 feet for bombing which caused the lead ship to overshoot the primary and release with poor results for the squadron on a Target of Opportunity at Parcheim. The other two squadrons released on the secondary of the marshalling yards by H2X with results unobserved. Fighter support was good and no enemy aircraft encounters were experienced. AA fire, however, was moderate and fairly accurate which caused the probable loss of (1) aircrew and the battle damage to (2) other bombers.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning crew member, 1/Lt K.E. Cline, gave a brief account on last seeing this aircraft: "Aircraft 841 was seen to peel off and head back toward the Continent at 1354 hours (52-40N; 04-15E) at 14,000 feet. Ship was probably low on gas." There were no German reports on this loss or other U.S. force sightings. It is speculated beyond a reasonable doubt that this aircraft and crew went down in the North Sea. This reasoning stems from the fact that the bodies of four crewmen eventually washed ashore and were buried while the names of the other five crew members are listed on the WALL OF THE MISSING at US cemeteries overseas
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: None; all members were lost on this mission.
BURIAL RECORDS: The body of Sgt Jamar washed ashore onto the beach of Castricum, The Netherlands, and was buried on 25 April 1945 in the local cemetery. After the war, Sgt Jamar was buried in Mt Olivet Cemetery in Ft Worth, TX. The body of Sgt Kudej washed ashore near the coastal village of Petten, The Netherlands, and was buried on 9 April 1945 at the local cemetery.The body of Sgt Pergande washed ashore or was brought in by a ship at the harbor of Ijmuiden and he was buried on 26 April 1945 in Havenkade Cemetery. On 25 June 1945, F/O Somerhalder was buried next to Sgt Pergande. F/O Somerhalder was reinterred in the Ardennes American Cemetery in Grave B-17-10, with a posthumous award of the Purple Heart. 2/Lt Wade, 2/Lt Zeigler, 2/Lt Sanders, and Sgt Luniewicz are listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Sgt Townsend is listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery. All five men had been awarded the Air Medal and a posthumous Purple Heart.
The "THE PHILLY FOLLY" crew
2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Lewis L. Sanders Jr. Navigator MIA/KIA
Fl/Of. Walter R. Somerhalder Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Bradford E. Pergande Engineer KIA
Sgt. Theodore E. Luniewicz Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Sgt. Robert W. Kudej Gunner KIA
Sgt. James Jamar Jr. Gunner KIA
Sgt. Edward S. Townsend Gunner MIA/KIA
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #18248937
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade MIA/KIA
Target: MAGDEBURG Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #12216
Date Lost: 9-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-28841
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "Z-Plus"
Aircraft Name: "THE PHILLY FOLLY" 1stMission
Location: North Sea
Cause: Unknown Crew of 9KIA
For the third straight mission, the vital oil refineries north of the city were ordered for strikes. On this raid, the 392nd led the entire 2nd Air Division and forecast clear weather promised good bombing efforts. Colonel Johnson flew in the lead aircraft as Command Pilot of the mission. Between 0445-0600 hours, (30) crews were given general briefings. At 0800, Group bombers began launch with assembly of the formation being orderly. Enroute, however, towering cumulus forced the Group formation to climb to 25,000 feet for bombing which caused the lead ship to overshoot the primary and release with poor results for the squadron on a Target of Opportunity at Parcheim. The other two squadrons released on the secondary of the marshalling yards by H2X with results unobserved. Fighter support was good and no enemy aircraft encounters were experienced. AA fire, however, was moderate and fairly accurate which caused the probable loss of (1) aircrew and the battle damage to (2) other bombers.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning crew member, 1/Lt K.E. Cline, gave a brief account on last seeing this aircraft: "Aircraft 841 was seen to peel off and head back toward the Continent at 1354 hours (52-40N; 04-15E) at 14,000 feet. Ship was probably low on gas." There were no German reports on this loss or other U.S. force sightings. It is speculated beyond a reasonable doubt that this aircraft and crew went down in the North Sea. This reasoning stems from the fact that the bodies of four crewmen eventually washed ashore and were buried while the names of the other five crew members are listed on the WALL OF THE MISSING at US cemeteries overseas
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: None; all members were lost on this mission.
BURIAL RECORDS: The body of Sgt Jamar washed ashore onto the beach of Castricum, The Netherlands, and was buried on 25 April 1945 in the local cemetery. After the war, Sgt Jamar was buried in Mt Olivet Cemetery in Ft Worth, TX. The body of Sgt Kudej washed ashore near the coastal village of Petten, The Netherlands, and was buried on 9 April 1945 at the local cemetery.The body of Sgt Pergande washed ashore or was brought in by a ship at the harbor of Ijmuiden and he was buried on 26 April 1945 in Havenkade Cemetery. On 25 June 1945, F/O Somerhalder was buried next to Sgt Pergande. F/O Somerhalder was reinterred in the Ardennes American Cemetery in Grave B-17-10, with a posthumous award of the Purple Heart. 2/Lt Wade, 2/Lt Zeigler, 2/Lt Sanders, and Sgt Luniewicz are listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Sgt Townsend is listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery. All five men had been awarded the Air Medal and a posthumous Purple Heart.
The "THE PHILLY FOLLY" crew
2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Lewis L. Sanders Jr. Navigator MIA/KIA
Fl/Of. Walter R. Somerhalder Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Bradford E. Pergande Engineer KIA
Sgt. Theodore E. Luniewicz Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Sgt. Robert W. Kudej Gunner KIA
Sgt. James Jamar Jr. Gunner KIA
Sgt. Edward S. Townsend Gunner MIA/KIA
Gunner Sgt. James Jamar Jr. KIA
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #18248937
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade MIA/KIA
Target: MAGDEBURG Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #12216
Date Lost: 9-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-28841
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "Z-Plus"
Aircraft Name: "THE PHILLY FOLLY" 1stMission
Location: North Sea
Cause: Unknown Crew of 9KIA
For the third straight mission, the vital oil refineries north of the city were ordered for strikes. On this raid, the 392nd led the entire 2nd Air Division and forecast clear weather promised good bombing efforts. Colonel Johnson flew in the lead aircraft as Command Pilot of the mission. Between 0445-0600 hours, (30) crews were given general briefings. At 0800, Group bombers began launch with assembly of the formation being orderly. Enroute, however, towering cumulus forced the Group formation to climb to 25,000 feet for bombing which caused the lead ship to overshoot the primary and release with poor results for the squadron on a Target of Opportunity at Parcheim. The other two squadrons released on the secondary of the marshalling yards by H2X with results unobserved. Fighter support was good and no enemy aircraft encounters were experienced. AA fire, however, was moderate and fairly accurate which caused the probable loss of (1) aircrew and the battle damage to (2) other bombers.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning crew member, 1/Lt K.E. Cline, gave a brief account on last seeing this aircraft: "Aircraft 841 was seen to peel off and head back toward the Continent at 1354 hours (52-40N; 04-15E) at 14,000 feet. Ship was probably low on gas." There were no German reports on this loss or other U.S. force sightings. It is speculated beyond a reasonable doubt that this aircraft and crew went down in the North Sea. This reasoning stems from the fact that the bodies of four crewmen eventually washed ashore and were buried while the names of the other five crew members are listed on the WALL OF THE MISSING at US cemeteries overseas
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: None; all members were lost on this mission.
BURIAL RECORDS: The body of Sgt Jamar washed ashore onto the beach of Castricum, The Netherlands, and was buried on 25 April 1945 in the local cemetery. After the war, Sgt Jamar was buried in Mt Olivet Cemetery in Ft Worth, TX. The body of Sgt Kudej washed ashore near the coastal village of Petten, The Netherlands, and was buried on 9 April 1945 at the local cemetery.The body of Sgt Pergande washed ashore or was brought in by a ship at the harbor of Ijmuiden and he was buried on 26 April 1945 in Havenkade Cemetery. On 25 June 1945, F/O Somerhalder was buried next to Sgt Pergande. F/O Somerhalder was reinterred in the Ardennes American Cemetery in Grave B-17-10, with a posthumous award of the Purple Heart. 2/Lt Wade, 2/Lt Zeigler, 2/Lt Sanders, and Sgt Luniewicz are listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Sgt Townsend is listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery. All five men had been awarded the Air Medal and a posthumous Purple Heart.
The "THE PHILLY FOLLY" crew
2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Lewis L. Sanders Jr. Navigator MIA/KIA
Fl/Of. Walter R. Somerhalder Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Bradford E. Pergande Engineer KIA
Sgt. Theodore E. Luniewicz Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Sgt. Robert W. Kudej Gunner KIA
Sgt. James Jamar Jr. Gunner KIA
Sgt. Edward S. Townsend Gunner MIA/KIA
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group
Service #18248937
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade MIA/KIA
Target: MAGDEBURG Germany
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #12216
Date Lost: 9-Feb-44
Serial Number: #41-28841
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "Z-Plus"
Aircraft Name: "THE PHILLY FOLLY" 1stMission
Location: North Sea
Cause: Unknown Crew of 9KIA
For the third straight mission, the vital oil refineries north of the city were ordered for strikes. On this raid, the 392nd led the entire 2nd Air Division and forecast clear weather promised good bombing efforts. Colonel Johnson flew in the lead aircraft as Command Pilot of the mission. Between 0445-0600 hours, (30) crews were given general briefings. At 0800, Group bombers began launch with assembly of the formation being orderly. Enroute, however, towering cumulus forced the Group formation to climb to 25,000 feet for bombing which caused the lead ship to overshoot the primary and release with poor results for the squadron on a Target of Opportunity at Parcheim. The other two squadrons released on the secondary of the marshalling yards by H2X with results unobserved. Fighter support was good and no enemy aircraft encounters were experienced. AA fire, however, was moderate and fairly accurate which caused the probable loss of (1) aircrew and the battle damage to (2) other bombers.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: A returning crew member, 1/Lt K.E. Cline, gave a brief account on last seeing this aircraft: "Aircraft 841 was seen to peel off and head back toward the Continent at 1354 hours (52-40N; 04-15E) at 14,000 feet. Ship was probably low on gas." There were no German reports on this loss or other U.S. force sightings. It is speculated beyond a reasonable doubt that this aircraft and crew went down in the North Sea. This reasoning stems from the fact that the bodies of four crewmen eventually washed ashore and were buried while the names of the other five crew members are listed on the WALL OF THE MISSING at US cemeteries overseas
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: None; all members were lost on this mission.
BURIAL RECORDS: The body of Sgt Jamar washed ashore onto the beach of Castricum, The Netherlands, and was buried on 25 April 1945 in the local cemetery. After the war, Sgt Jamar was buried in Mt Olivet Cemetery in Ft Worth, TX. The body of Sgt Kudej washed ashore near the coastal village of Petten, The Netherlands, and was buried on 9 April 1945 at the local cemetery.The body of Sgt Pergande washed ashore or was brought in by a ship at the harbor of Ijmuiden and he was buried on 26 April 1945 in Havenkade Cemetery. On 25 June 1945, F/O Somerhalder was buried next to Sgt Pergande. F/O Somerhalder was reinterred in the Ardennes American Cemetery in Grave B-17-10, with a posthumous award of the Purple Heart. 2/Lt Wade, 2/Lt Zeigler, 2/Lt Sanders, and Sgt Luniewicz are listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Sgt Townsend is listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery. All five men had been awarded the Air Medal and a posthumous Purple Heart.
The "THE PHILLY FOLLY" crew
2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Burton L. Wade Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Zeigler Co Pilot MIA/KIA
2nd/Lt. Lewis L. Sanders Jr. Navigator MIA/KIA
Fl/Of. Walter R. Somerhalder Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. Bradford E. Pergande Engineer KIA
Sgt. Theodore E. Luniewicz Radio Op. MIA/KIA
Sgt. Robert W. Kudej Gunner KIA
Sgt. James Jamar Jr. Gunner KIA
Sgt. Edward S. Townsend Gunner MIA/KIA
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