sammis1955872

you and Walters son look a lot alike

Thanks for sharing all the pictures

This is part of a letter my daughter received while searching for information on Walter... Weather conditions were bitterly cold and icy which may have contributed to the crash. The aircraft was serial number 42-3544 Stars and Stripes with the target assigned as Bordeaux, France. After taking off at 0725 hours, the plane climbed to about 200 feet then a wing dropped and it struck the ground at Brook Farm, Badwell Ash in Suffolk. It was carrying 16 M31 bombs, two exploded and the rest were scattered over an area of approximately 300-400 yards along with the wreckage. The only survivor, tail gunner, S/Sgt Burnell T Hamilton was seriously injured and the following crew members perished. Pilot: Flight Officer William H Morris; Co-pilot 2/Lt Denis J Ziebarth; Navigator, 2/Lt Richard S Proctor; Bombardier, 2/Lt Robert M Totaro; Engineer, S/Sgt Russell A Stevens; Radio Operator, Sgt Chester A Rober Jr; Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt Walter A Stuebgen; Waist Gunner, Sgt Stanley Lowitz. I note that your grandfather is still buried in the US Military Cemetery over here at Madingley (Grave E-0-53) and wonder if you would like me to place some flowers there on your behalf when next I visit? ...more