Tuesday, November 15, 2011
© Copyright 2013
Newton Citizen
Arlie Aukerman completed 25 dangerous missions as a nose gunner on a B-24 Liberator, including a 1,300-plane raid over Berlin on March 18, 1945, as a member of the 453rd Bomb Group. Below is a list of some of the missions Aukerman flew:
-- Mayen: the Marshalling yards in town, 2,000 planes on raid, lost 35.
-- Neuwied: the Rhine River Bridge, lost two planes from formation, missed target by 2 miles, crash landing due to crosswise nose wheel.
-- Rheine: Marshalling yards, feathered #3 engine 34 minutes from target, lagged formation, returned alone.
-- Gielbelstadt: Jet Airfields near town, awarded citation for best bombing in 8th AF, worst flak ever encountered, 15 holes in plane, 4 hits in one wing.
-- Berlin: Anti-aircraft factory, unbearable flak, 1300 planes in the raid, lost 24 bombers and 6 escort fighters.
More like this story
- Aukerman saw the war through B-24 gun turret ( November 15, 2011 )
- Jackson flew the "Wampus Cat" B-17 bomber in WWII ( January 11, 2012 )
- 90-year-old veteran survived five major beach invasions ( January 24, 2012 )
- A level head served Kerr well during Pearl Harbor attack ( December 27, 2011 )
- Conyers veteran Garrison kept American planes in the air during WWII ( March 27, 2012 )
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID