Memorial

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The plane was attacked by enemy aircraft between Koblenz and Frankfurt. The pilot made a crash landing on a hill, 4 Km southeast of Rudersdorf in the district of Siegen, Germany. No one bailed out. 2nd Lt Longenecker was seriously injured in the crash. He was found in front of the ship where he had been thrown. Other crewmembers laid him on the ground and first carried the left waist gunner and top-gunner to a trailer and car on top of the hill and started to go back for the navigator with a stretcher and a German civilian came up the hill with navigator’s sunglasses and escape kit. He motioned for them to go back. 2nd Lt Longenecker must have died after they carried him down there. They believe that he was wounded bad enough to have died in so short a time. 2nd Lt Longenecker was, together with 2nd Lt. Canterbury, 2nd Lt. Hemer and Sgt. Zell, buried on May 13 at the cemetery Ruedersdorf. The other crew members were taken prisoner.