Memorial

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S/Sgt Trenton T. Tucker Jr. enlisted in Portland, Oregon on 11 November 1942.

Statement:
On 8 April 1944 the 8th Air Force carried out Bombing missions around the German town of Braunschweig (Brunswick).
The American bomberaircraft B-24J-50-CO with serialnumber 42-73495 took part in this mission.
The aircraft of the 330th Bomber Squadron 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy, piloted by Lt Joseph Andrew Buland, was damaged during this mission in the bomb bay area caused by German flak and fighters. The aircraft was forced to leave formation.
Near Zwolle, The Netherlands, the aircraft was shot down by Oblt. Karl Willius in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8. About 1520 hours the B-24J, with his nickname "Old Hickory", crashed west of Schokland, The Netherlands.

Three crewmembers, including Staff Sergeant Trenton Thelbert Tucker were killed in action, became missing in action. It is believed and stated that S/Sgt Trenton Thelbert Tucker did bail out from the nose compartiment but that his parachute did not open and he crashed into the ground.

The other crewmembers survived and became POW/RTD.
The crewmembers who were killed in action were first buried at a honorfield at the cemetery of Vollenhoven, graves 609 and 610.

Oblt. Karl Willius did not survive the day. His aircraft was shot down by USAAF P-47 Fighterplanes. He crashed at the Kamperzeedijk, Genemuiden, The Netherlands: his 50th victory was his last. In 1967 he and his plane were recovered.