Henry W. Plankel
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces

In July 1944, Sergeant Henry W. Plankel was serving as a gunner with the 759th Bomb Squadron, 459th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 304th Bombardment Wing, 15th Air Force, based at Giulia Airfield, Italy. The 459th Bombardment Group flew B-24 Liberator bombers on missions in Italy, France, the Balkans, Austria and Germany.

On 24 July 1944, SGT Plankel was ball turret gunner on B-24J Liberator bomber Serial Number 42-50870 which was on a bombing mission over a German fighter airfield, Les Chanoines, near Marseille, France. The aircraft had a crew of 9. According to MACR 9833, a witness (SGT Ira A. Mayfield, gunner on another bomber in the formation) observed the aircraft under attack by German fighters. It appeared that it was hit by gunfire on the right wing between the number 3 and number 4 engines and the number 4 engine was on fire. At 1156 hours, the aircraft was seen falling away from the formation and then crashing into the Mediterranean Sea.

All 9 crew members were Killed in Action.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Purple Heart
Air Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Forces Aircrew Badge

B-24J Liberator bomber Serial Number 42-50870 had the following crew on 24 July 1944.

● Pilot: 2LT Ernest P. Jerman, Jr. [Honoree Record ID 308359] KIA
● Co-Pilot: 2LT Jack C. Glidden [Honoree Record ID 308360] KIA
● Bombardier: 2LT Norman W. Nichols [Honoree Record ID 198711] KIA
● Engineer/Gunner: SGT Davis K. Stewart [Honoree Record ID 308361] KIA
● Radio Operator/Gunner: SGT Walter T. Weinberger [Honoree Record ID 199019] KIA
● Nose Turret Gunner: SGT Harold P. Shaffer [Honoree Record ID 198875] KIA
● Waist Gunner: SGT Raymond C. Halls [Honoree Record ID 198376] KIA
● Ball Turret Gunner: SGT Henry W. Plankel [Honoree Record ID 71452] KIA
● Tail Turret Gunner: SGT William E. Root [Honoree Record ID 198834] KIA

Burial

Sergeant Henry W. Plankel is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France, in Plot B, Row 23, Grave 38.

[The information in this biography was derived primarily from various sections of the 459th Bombardment Group website at http://www.459bg.org/ and permission was granted for its use. Photos provided by Dwight "Andy" Anderson and used with permission.]