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name
ALDER, Herbert Gordon - Date of
birth
18 July 1921 -
Age
23 -
Place of birth
Denver, Denver County, Colorado -
Hometown
Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-703918 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
391st Bombardment Squadron,
34th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
7 August 1944 - Place of
death
Malmedy, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Alfred Alder (father)
Daisy E. (Stucker) Alder (mother)
Eunice Alder (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-40323 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Sunshine Rose
MACR: 7877
More information
The airplane was hit by flak in the bomb bay, causing a fire. It immediately pulled out of the formation and started to glide, leveled, started to climb and then entered another glide as if it stalled. When it was last seen by crew members of others B-24's in the group, it seemed to be under control.Four crew members were killed, four were taken prisoner and one evaded capture.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - 1930 US Census
Photo source: Jac Engels, Pasadena Junior College yearbook 1939