Memorial

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A/C 382 collided with 452 while 452 was trying to avoid an exploding A/C. Both ships went down in flames, 12 to 15 chutes were reported.
An air battle raged over Czechoslovakia, Nazi fighters were attaching a squadron of A.A.F. Liberators. In the melee, two of the big B-24's collided. Several parachutes billowed out. But an Akron bombardier, Sergeant William I. Haney. A year later after that air tragedy, the government offically had declared Sgt Haney killed in action. However, because three of the crew members of the ill-fated planes later turned up as war prisoners in Germany, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Haney, parents of the bombardier, and William R., a brother, still cling to a faint hope he is alive.
Sgt Haney had almost completed his tour of missions when lost and shortly before had been decorated with the Air Medal and two oak leaf clusters. He was a former B.F. Goodrich Co. employe.