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Personal info

Full name
WARNE, Gideon Willis "Bucky"
Date of birth
1918
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Campton, Kane County, Illinois
Hometown
Elburn, Kane County, Illinois
Ethnicity
White

Military service

Service number
O-404099
Rank
Captain
Function
Pilot
Unit
67th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
22 March 1943
Place of death
In the vicinity of Alte Mellum Island, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Harry W. Warne (father)
Gertrude H. (Gorman) Warne (mother)
Harry W. Warne (brother)
William G. Warner (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
41-23832
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Maggie
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 15585

More information

Capt Gideon W. Warne graduated from Elburn High School in 1936 and from Northern Illinois State Teachers College.

According to crew members of other airplane in the group, the aircraft was badly damaged by enemy fighters. All crew members bailed out about 10 minutes away from the target area into the North Sea. Some of them landed on Alte Mellum Island. Other landed in the water south of the island. As these parachutes were descending, two enemy aircraft were seen making two attacks each on the parachutes.

Statement of the Navigator, Lt Robert J. Walker, who survived the mission:
"We were coming home from Wilhelmshaven when the ship was badly shot up by German fighters. Shortly after several attacks on us, the ship was shot up so badly that we all had to bail out, in spite of the fact that we were out a bit over the North Sea. We all came down in the vicinity of Alte Mellum island, but into the water. Sgt Klug and I were the first two picked up by a ship headed for Helgoland - and we were the only survivors. Apparently all others drowned, or died from exposure in that frigid water before rescuers found them."

Eight crew members were killed, two men survived and were taken prisoner.

He is remembered at River Hills Memorial Park in Batavia, Illinois.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Carien Piters, www.newspapers.com - The Daily Chronicle, www.findagrave.com