Memorial

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2nd Lt Raymond H. Buthe was a machenic before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Chicago, Illinois on 17 August 1942.

The initial target was the oil plant of Lutzendorf. Instead, targets of opportunity were attacked.

The aircraft was hit by flak at the instant of bombs away. A large hole was observed between #3 and #4 engines. The entire right wing burst into flames, and the aircraft peeled off to the right and lost altitude rapidly. The aircraft was not out of control, and some crews reported 1-2 chutes, though the majority saw no chutes. The incident was at 27,800 feet at 1318 hours over the target. Heavy contrails prevented further observation of this aircraft or its crew.

The deceased crew members were initially buried at the Michaelis Cemetery at Zeitz on 2 December 1944. The crew members, listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle, were recovered after the war and transported to the American Military Cemetery at Ardennes. They could not be identified with sufficient certainty, so they were buried as unknown.