Flying Fortress 20 May 1944

Baker, Arthur R.
Army Sergeant

Arthur R. Baker, age 30, from Kosciusko County Indiana.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, May 20, 1944
Death details: On May 20, 1944, a B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-97176, with a crew of ten departed Rattlesden, Suffolk, England for a bombing mission against enemy targets around Liege, Belgium. Approximately halfway across the English Channel, the crew noticed the right wing of the B-17 was on fire. The aircraft dropped its bomb load in the Channel and bailed out of the aircraft before it crashed into the water. The air rescue squadron called to the scene found two crew members alive, and the body of a third in the water. Seven crew members were missing and presumed drowned. Sgt. Arthur R. Baker, who joined the U.S. Army Air Forces from Indiana, served with the 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy). He was the tail gunner aboard the B-17 when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Baker is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.
Cemetery: Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Gray, Simpson B.
Army Sergeant

Simpson B. Gray, age 21, from Madison County Montana.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, May 20, 1944
Death details: On May 20, 1944, a B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-97176, with a crew of ten departed Rattlesden, Suffolk, England for a bombing mission against enemy targets around Liege, Belgium. Approximately halfway across the English Channel, the crew noticed the right wing of the B-17 was on fire. The aircraft dropped its bomb load in the Channel and bailed out of the aircraft before it crashed into the water. The air rescue squadron called to the scene found two crew members alive, and the body of a third in the water. Seven crew members were missing and presumed drowned. Sgt. Simpson B. Gray, who joined the U.S. Army Air Forces from New Mexico, served with the 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy). He was the ball turret gunner aboard the B-17 when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Gray is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Jefferson Valley News (1946

Harwell, John T.
Army Technican sergeant

John T. Harwell, age 23, from Georgetown County Georgetown, South Carolina .

Parents: J. G. Harwell
Spouse: Juanita Bonney

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, May 20, 1944
Death details: On May 20, 1944, a B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-97176, with a crew of ten departed Rattlesden, Suffolk, England for a bombing mission against enemy targets around Liege, Belgium. Approximately halfway across the English Channel, the crew noticed the right wing of the B-17 was on fire. The aircraft dropped its bomb load in the Channel and bailed out of the aircraft before it crashed into the water. The air rescue squadron called to the scene found two crew members alive, and the body of a third in the water. Seven crew members were missing and presumed drowned. Tech. Sgt. John T. Harwell, who joined the U.S. Army Air Forces from South Carolina, served with the 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy). He was the top turret gunner aboard the B-17 when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Harwell is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, The State (1945)

Kesterke, Duane A.
Army 2nd lieutenant

Duane A. Kesterke, age 20, from Berrien County Dowagiac, Michigan .

Parents: Theodore Kesterke

Service era: World War II
Schools: Eau Claire High, graduated from Central High in Dowagiac, Western Michigan

Date of death: Saturday, May 20, 1944
Death details: On May 20, 1944, a B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-97176, with a crew of ten departed Rattlesden, Suffolk, England for a bombing mission against enemy targets around Liege, Belgium. Approximately halfway across the English Channel, the crew noticed the right wing of the B-17 was on fire. The aircraft dropped its bomb load in the Channel and bailed out of the aircraft before it crashed into the water. The air rescue squadron called to the scene found two crew members alive, and the body of a third in the water. Seven crew members were missing and presumed drowned. Second Lt. Duane Kesterke, who joined the U.S. Army Air Forces from Michigan, served with the 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy). He was the navigator aboard the B-17 when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Kesterke is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Dowagiac Daily News (1945)

Oulehla, Charles H.
Army 2nd lieutenant

Charles H. Oulehla from Cook County Illinois.

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, May 20, 1944
Death details: On May 20, 1944, a B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-97176, with a crew of ten departed Rattlesden, Suffolk, England for a bombing mission against enemy targets around Liege, Belgium. Approximately halfway across the English Channel, the crew noticed the right wing of the B-17 was on fire. The aircraft dropped its bomb load in the Channel and bailed out of the aircraft before it crashed into the water. The air rescue squadron called to the scene found two crew members alive, and the body of a third in the water. Seven crew members were missing and presumed drowned. Second Lt. Charles H. Oulehla, who joined the U.S. Army Air Forces from Illinois, served with the 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group. He was the bombardier aboard the B-17 when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Oulehla is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Secunda, Gustave
Army Staff sergeant

Gustave Secunda, age 30, from Berkshire County Pittsfield, Massachusetts .

Parents: Morris

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, May 20, 1944
Death details: On July 30, 2025, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified the remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Gustave Secunda, missing from World War II. Secunda entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Massachusetts and served with the 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group. On May 20, 1944, he was the radio operator aboard a B-17G Flying Fortress aircraft, serial number 42-97176, with a crew of ten, which departed Rattlesden, Suffolk, England, in a formation of 200 bombers for a mission against enemy targets around Liege, Belgium. Approximately halfway across the English Channel, the crew noticed .50 caliber machine gun bullet holes along the right wing of the B-17, and that one of the engines was on fire. The aircraft dropped its bomb load in the Channel, and the crew bailed out of the aircraft before it crashed into the water. The air rescue squadron called to the scene found two crew members alive, and the body of a third in the water. Seven crew members, including Secunda, were missing and presumed drowned. In 2017, Wessex Archaeology, a DPAA partner team, recovered human remains during an underwater survey operation at a wind farm off the coast of England. In Jan. 2020, DPAA’s European Detachment, coordinating with officials from the U.S. Army Regional Mortuary Europe/Africa, arranged for the remains to be transferred to local authorities in Great Britain, and thereafter the evidence sent to a DPAA laboratory for analysis. There, based on the laboratory analysis and total circumstantial evidence the remains were found to be those of Secunda.
Cemetery: Memorialized at Arlington National

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Berkshire County Eagle (1945, 2002)

White, Everette W.
Army Staff sergeant

Everette W. White from Swisher County Texas.

Service era: World War II
Military history: 710 Bombardment Squadron 447 Bombardment Group (Heavy)

Date of death: Saturday, May 20, 1944
Death details: On May 20, 1944, a B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-97176, with a crew of ten departed Rattlesden, Suffolk, England for a bombing mission against enemy targets around Liege, Belgium. Approximately halfway across the English Channel, the crew noticed the right wing of the B-17 was on fire. The aircraft dropped its bomb load in the Channel and bailed out of the aircraft before it crashed into the water. The air rescue squadron called to the scene found two crew members alive, and the body of a third in the water. Seven crew members were missing and presumed drowned. Staff Sgt. Everette W. White, who joined the U.S. Army Air Forces from Texas, served with the 710th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy). He was the right waist gunner aboard the B-17 when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. White is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery in England. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.
Cemetery: Unaccounted For

Source: National Archives, American Battle Monuments Commission, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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