Memorial

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S/Sgt Albert G. Wackerman graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1932.
He enlisted in San Francisco, California on 8 September 1942.
Shortly after turning southeast from Laval towards Le Mans, the formation took dense anti-aircraft fire. One of the bursts exploded just beneath the radio compartment and destroyed the oxygen system serving the rear spaces of the aircraft. To prevent the crew from suffocating, the pilot took the plane down to 10,000 feet and turned north for home. He never did have a chance to drop his bombs. Shortly after reaching lower altitudes, the bomber was attacked by several enemy fighters. Shortly thereafter the plane was struck by cannon fire multiple times and was soon unable to maintain altitude.

S/Sgt Wackerman went down with the airplane.

Of the crew, three men evaded capture, three men were taken prisoner and four men were killed. All were buried by German Army personnel at a cemetery in Alencon, France.