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Erich, Milton Benjamin

Individual Personnel Data
Name Erich, Milton Benjamin   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 39394770   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #139 dated 16 July 1944, effective 16 July 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 30 November 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi, California: Old Park, Block 1711, Space 4
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 29 November 1920
  • Information received from Harry deCourcy in 2006: 'All crew survived the crash but Evans, Kohlhaas, Bellovary & Erich were captured by the local Volksturm, shot and buried locally. Their bodies were recovered by US Infantry and interred in US Military Cemeteries in Europe until identified. Erich was returned to the US and buried in Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi, California. The remaining crew members were captured and survived as POWs. (This information is from Dept of The Army, Individual Deceased Person Report [File 293] which we obtained in 1996.)'
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #175 dated 1 September 1944.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #207 dated 19 October 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 11129⇓ (13.277 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Hughes, Robert Davis⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Evans, Hugh Legar⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Rasmussen, John Christian⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Gabriel, Joseph Albert⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Klanke, Edward Franklin⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Burns, Arlington⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Bellovary, John Joseph, Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Russell, Lester Hebran, Jr⇗Tail GunnerPOW
SGT. Erich, Milton BenjaminFlexible GunnerKIA
SGT. Siffert, Charles William, "Chuck"⇗Flexible GunnerTR
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 32 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102617⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Group Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37822⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97320⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low group. Turned back with a broken exhaust stack in #3 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, low group. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39888.
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
188⇗ 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship, low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
192⇗ 11 September 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Manston, Kent, with major battle damage.
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
B Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
C Wing, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
199⇗ 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38615⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
206⇗ 6 October 1944 Target: M/T Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
D group deputy Squadron lead. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Third Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
212⇗ 17 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97320⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Sortie Report⇗
213⇗ 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
214⇗ 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
220⇗ 5 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; #3 engine feathered.
Sortie Report⇗
221⇗ 6 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
222⇗ 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑38801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
224⇗ 10 November 1944 Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
225⇗ 11 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
226⇗ 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑38750⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, 41st Bomb Wing A group. Landed away at Stratford, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
227⇗ 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
230⇗ 26 November 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenbeken, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
232⇗ 29 November 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
233⇗ 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑37713⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Damaged by flak, force-landed near Rebgeshain, Hesse, Germany. Crew survived combat, but four members were murdered by the local Nazi Ortsgruppenleiter in Beltershain, the others became POW. MACR 11129
Sortie Report⇗

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