Memorial

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S/Sgt Benjamin Kaplan enlisted at Fort Hayes Columbus, Ohio on 22 March 1941.

About twenty (20) minutes before reaching the target the plane was heavily attacked by enemy fighters and the No. 2 engine was set afire. The prop on No.2 engine was feathered and shortly thereafter the ball turret gunner called on the intercom and said that he was coming out of the ballas he could not operate due to smoke and heat. At this time Capt Rawlinson told the co-pilot, Capt Hebert to go to the rear and investigate the condition of the plane.
Capt Hebert turned around almost immediately and announced that the fire was spreading through the bomb bay. Capt Rawlinson then rang the bail-out alarm and found that the intercom was out of commision. During the period covered by the above, the plane was constantly under severe fighter attack from apparently close range. Capt Hebert and the top turret gunner, name unknown, immediately prepared to abandon the plane and had secured their chest type parachutes. The gunner and Capt Hebert disappeared through the catwalk toward the nose, apparently heading for the nose escape hatch. Capt Rawlinson at this time made a turn off the IP toward the target with the intention of dropping salvo bombs from the cockpit and the to abandon the plane, altitude at this time was 28,500 feet. Just prior to bomb release time the plane exploded and Capt Rawlinson who was wearing a seat type parachute was blown clear of the wreckage. As soon as he cleared the debris, he pulled his ripcord and immediately thereafter blacked out. He became conscious again while on the way down and noticed one parachute in the air about 200 yards from him. He does not know whether or not this parachute came from his own plane. He then blacked out again and remained unconscious until he landed and was in the hands of Germans who captured him.