Memorial

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1st Lt Alden J. Hershiser Jr. was killed in action on 4 April 1945 when his plane was shot down over Havelberg, Germany.

A flak burst in the cockpit of the aircraft caused damage to the oxygen lines and communications cables. Fire, fed by the oxygen lines, consumed the cockpit. The aircraft started a shallow dive that gradually increased until it entered a spin. 1st Lt Hershiser helped the pilot, who was badly injured, to bail out. Other crew members say they saw Lt Hershiser bail out, but his body was never found. The aircraft finally crashed near the village of Krullenkempe, narrowly missing the houses.

The crew members who were killed in this crash are listed as killed or missing in action on 5 April 1945. Research reveals that the mission took place on 4 April.

1st Lt Hershiser was officially declared dead one day and one year after he was reported missing in action. His status remained until his remains were finally identified in July 2009. The Joint Prisoners of War, Missing In Action Accounting Command began looking at the case in 1998 when family members of the bombardier from the plane traveled to Havelberg and placed an ad in the local newspaper seeking information about the crash. In 2007, an American airman's remains were dug up from a shallow grave that local people had always kept a secret. The remains were flown to Hawaii and identified using DNA from family members.

A burial ceremony was held at Rose Hill Burial Park in Akron, where Alden's remains were placed next to his parents on 11 September 2009. Full military honors were provided.