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.