2nd Lt Hacker
flew with the following crew:
Pilot 1st Lt.
HARLAN C. ALMLIE, from Bricelyn, Minnesota
Navigator 2nd Lt. JOSEPH L. SCHEXNAYDER, from
Garyville, Louisiana
Bombardier 2nd Lt. WALTER J. SEILER, from
Chicago, Illinois
Engineer T/Sgt. DONALD A. DAVIS, from Rockford,
Illinois
Radio Oper. T/Sgt. EVERETT E. PERMAR, from
Aurora, Indiana
Belly Gun S/Sgt. GEORGE W. IORGOV, from
Donna, Texas
RW Gunner S/Sgt. JOHN L. TOWNING, , from Bell,
California
LW Gunner S/Sgt. JOHN V. LUNDSTROM, from Terra
Haute, Indiana
Tail Turret S/Sgt. FREDERICK A. ROBINSON, from
Albany, New York
On November
1943 the 44th Bomb Group was tasked with a
mission to the port of Bremen. This turned out
to be a tough mission, as the crews had to
content with bad weather, cold and fierce
attacks by the Luftwaffe. Around 50 German
fighters attacked the formation from all angles,
often using the contrails of the bombers to hide
their approach.
2nd Lt. Hacker
and his crew flew in B-24 #42-40973 "Battleaxe".
The formation flew through inaccurate flak and
the German fighter attacks petered out the
moment the P-38 escort fighters joined the
fight. The port of Bremen was bombed at 11.47.
"Battleaxe" was
hit by either flak or fighters and one engine
was trailing smoke. Over the North Sea it
started to glide out of formation, but under
control. This was when the Bomb Group was within
20 minutes flying time to the English coast. The
Air-Sea Rescue Service was notified when it
appeared that the bomber had not returned to
base. No one had seen it crash or ditch, but in
the following days and weeks, the bodies of five
crew members washed ashore on the Dutch coast.
S/Sgt Lundstrom and S/Sgt Iorgov are buried in
Margraten. Three others, 2nd Lt. Seiler, T/Sgt
Davis and S/Sgt Towning are today buried in the
United States. Five others are mentioned on the
Wall of the Missing in Margraten.
2nd Lt. Hacker
is mentioned on the Wall of the Missing at Margraten American Military
Cemetery.
