World War II Database

1. Brendan Cowan says:
24 Nov 2010 05:09:00 PM

I've seen this photo many times over the years but never ceases to astonish me. You feel for the guys in the B-26, marvel at that timing of the photographer, the still turning propeller and the part that chance plays in life or death. It is a stunning photo.

2. Trevor Boyer says:
5 Apr 2011 09:03:45 AM

My great grandfather was on that very b26. He died along with all but two from the crew. It is astonishing that anyone survived this direct hit.
RIP Sgt. Herman L. Frieden - KIA - Toulon, France
Grave Unknown

3. Cy White says:
24 Nov 2013 09:54:57 PM

Mr. Chen,
My comment was in part answered by Trevor Boyer April 5, 2011.
Was just wondering the names of those who survived and where they might be now.

Thanks
Cy White
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

4. Anonymous says:
8 Dec 2014 07:38:53 PM

Is there any way to find out who may have taken this photo?

5. Jim McIsaac says:
2 Jun 2020 08:36:10 PM

1st Lt Joseph Leonard Albury, Jr.,(Pilot) KIA
2nd Lt Joseph J Casey (Co-Pilot) KIA
2nd Lt Edgar W Hawthorne (Bombardier) KIA
1st Lt Paul Marshall, Jr (Navigator) KIA
S/Sgt Francis A Pesta (gunner) KIA
Pvt Herman L Frieden Photo/Gunner KIA

Survivors
S/Sgt Robert J McCluskey (Radio Operator) Evaded, RTD, EUS
S/Sgt George L Moscovis (Engineer/Gunner) Evaded, RTD, EUS

and for Trevor Boyer (if you haven't found out since 2011):Herman L. Frieden, PVT 95 Bomb Sq – 17 Bomb Gp(M), Misouri Aug 20 1944 is resting at
Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial
Draguignan, Departement du Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Plot Plot B Row 9 Grave 13

6. Jim McIsaac says:
2 Jun 2020 08:42:16 PM

Sorry, I missed one of the survivors in my list:
S/Sgt George L Moscovis (Engineer/Gunner) Evaded, RTD, EUS

Plus for Anonymous, Original photo taken by photographer S/Sgt Peter Holmes on Aug 20 1944 over Toulon, France.

7.  David Stubblebine says:
3 Jun 2020 12:43:42 AM

Jim McIsaac (above):
Thank you for your information about the crew members from this airplane and for also offering better information about the date of this event. The caption has been updated. Further checking also revealed the aircraft was a B-26C-45-MO with serial number was 42-107735. The loss of this crew is described in MACR 7867. Interestingly, the MACR describes the aircraft type was a C-45 but this was the sub-type, as in B-26C-45.

8. Anonymous says:
26 Sep 2022 09:42:45 AM

My father was Robert McCluskey survived this downing of Flossie’s Fury! Thank you George Moscovis for a wonderful life and your kicking mule patch. Tim

9. David Hall says:
13 Jan 2024 10:03:56 AM

I own this photo. It was taken by my step father Roy Morelan, flight engineer, from the window of a B-17. There is no other history about it. Any info about when and where it was shot down is made up. Roy couldn't even remember where he was when he took it. I'm happy to provide proof.
/Users/davidhall/Desktop/IMG_5823.jpeg

10.  David Stubblebine says:
15 Jan 2024 11:56:26 AM

This striking image has been published and republished many times since World War II along with the story behind it. The aircraft was assigned to the 25th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Squadron based at Villacidro in southern Sardinia. The fate of this airplane is described quite well in the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) and in even more detail in a Dec 2002 article in Flight Journal. That article was written by a former B-26 squadron commander with the neighboring 320th Bomb Group and was reprinted by the 320th Bomb Group Association: https://320thbg.org/greater_love_1.html. The entry for this aircraft on the list of USAAF aircraft serial numbers even includes the note “famous photo.”

11. Melissa Frieden says:
2 Feb 2024 08:04:12 PM

My great uncle lost his life in this plane as it went down, PVT Herman Frieden. It is such an honor to be related to him.

12. Anonymous says:
27 Apr 2024 09:02:37 PM

I know someone’s dad who was in the plane behind this crippled plane and his son can tell you all about it.

13. Isabelle Sismanian Hemchehirlian says:
7 Dec 2024 11:36:59 PM

My grandfather Isahak Hemchehirlian was a soldier and my mother kept a few photos of him with all the other soldiers. He lived in Marseille at the time. He made it but his mind deteriorated rapidly. He committed suicide when I was very little but have very fond memories of him bringing sweets at every visit. My mother is 89 years old now