KIA in WW II - credit: Russ Pickett

KIA in WW II - credit: Russ Pickett

Ernest served as a Staff Sergeant & Tail Gunner on B-24H "Peerless Clipper" #41-29216, 717th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24H #41-29216 took off, with a crew of 11, from Grottaglie, Italy on a bombing mission over Steyr, Austria. On the way to the mission two other bombers collided ahead of B-24H #41-29216 and the debris from this collision struck them and caused them to crash in Austria during the war.

Ernest was "Killed In Action" on this mission during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

Service # 12167848

Airmen who perished on B-24H #41-29216:

Adams, Donald R ~ S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NY

Batterton, Herbert H ~ S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, MI

Butler, George W ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, CT

Caldwell, James B ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, SD

Gibbo, Leo J ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, CT

Kury, Jacob F ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, PA

Moore, Gordon F ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, TX

Phillips, John F ~ FO, Co-Pilot, MI

Piland, James C ~ S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, GA

Plourde, Gerard J ~ Sgt, Photographer, RI

Woods, Ernest ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, NY