Memorial

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S/Sgt Harry E. Pfautz graduated from Lititz High School in 1942 and attended college for one year. He worked as a mechanic or repairman at the Middletown Air Depot.

He enlisted in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 11 February 1943.

This crew, which was on its first mission, had taken over this bomber from its original crew that had completed 35 missions.

The bomber took a direct hit in the bomb bay and between the #3 and #4 engines.

Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner; eight men were killed.

According to the navigator, 2nd Lt Walter Hofman, who survived the incident, the airplane went into a spin after being hit, and it broke into pieces after he and the co-pilot, 2nd Lt Robert P. Dwight, were thrown out.
S/Sgt Pfaulz was thrown out through the plexiglass nose, without his parachute attached.