Memorial

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S/Sgt Edward G. Eschinger enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 18 September 1943.

The airplane was on its 110th mission without aborting and was hit by flak north of Brux. The No. 2 engine was smoking and was feathered. Bombs were dropped on the third bomb run and the target was crossed with the formation. It then slipped off to the left and exploded in the air approximately three minutes after it started descending. Six parachutes were seen. The first three came out together, then three a bit later. One jump was delayed. The men in the rear of the B-17 went out the waist hatch. Sgt. Melvin C. Carlson jumped first, followed by Sgts. Walter E. Smith and Luis L. Contreras. Other crewmen jumped from the nose hatch. Sgt. Contreras landed separately from the rest of his crew, sought shelter and was captured by angry civilians. He witnessed an unknown airman being shot by the civilians, was beaten and abused and placed in a city jail for four days.

S/Sgt. Edward G. Eschinger and Sgt. Carlson were killed. They are believed to have been killed by civilians after a successful parachute landing. Six other crew members were taken prisoner.

In September 1948 his remains were recovered from the civilian cemetery of Tuttendorf, southeast of Mohorn.