On 2 July 1944, on a mission to the Shell Oil Refinery in Budapest, B-24 #42-51077 "Emperor Jones" (744th Bomb Squadron, 456th Bomb Group), was attacked by Focke-Wulf 190 German fighters. The pilot signalled the crew to abandon the crippled plane, but was notified that there were several wounded crew members that could not make a parachute jump; he attempted to bring the plane in. The uninjured members of the crew bailed out of the plane and a few minutes later the B-24 exploded in mid-air.
1st Lt Edward C Jones, Jr. :: Pilot, KIA
2nd Lt Vittorio O Russo :: Co-pilot, POW
2nd Lt Benjamin W Grant :: Navigator, POW
2nd Lt Joseph Ralph Woll :: Bombardier, KIA
SSgt Jack Franklin Bonifield :: Radio Operator, POW
SSgt Joseph Frederick Miller :: Flight Engineer, POW
SSgt Joseph M L Michaud :: Photographer, POW
TSgt Ferrel Eugene Daniel :: Top Turret Gunner, POW
TSgt Harold Eugene Rogers :: Gunner, KIA
Sgt (RAF) Walter John Rogers, Jr :: Gunner, KIA
MSgt James T Sanford :: Gunner, KIA
[Source: American Air Museum in Britain online]
On 2 July 1944, on a mission to the Shell Oil Refinery in Budapest, B-24 #42-51077 "Emperor Jones" (744th Bomb Squadron, 456th Bomb Group), was attacked by Focke-Wulf 190 German fighters. The pilot signalled the crew to abandon the crippled plane, but was notified that there were several wounded crew members that could not make a parachute jump; he attempted to bring the plane in. The uninjured members of the crew bailed out of the plane and a few minutes later the B-24 exploded in mid-air.
1st Lt Edward C Jones, Jr. :: Pilot, KIA
2nd Lt Vittorio O Russo :: Co-pilot, POW
2nd Lt Benjamin W Grant :: Navigator, POW
2nd Lt Joseph Ralph Woll :: Bombardier, KIA
SSgt Jack Franklin Bonifield :: Radio Operator, POW
SSgt Joseph Frederick Miller :: Flight Engineer, POW
SSgt Joseph M L Michaud :: Photographer, POW
TSgt Ferrel Eugene Daniel :: Top Turret Gunner, POW
TSgt Harold Eugene Rogers :: Gunner, KIA
Sgt (RAF) Walter John Rogers, Jr :: Gunner, KIA
MSgt James T Sanford :: Gunner, KIA
[Source: American Air Museum in Britain online]
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Tennessee.
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