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After completing a year's service in the National Guard on 25 November, 1927, Sgt Shoemaker joined the Regular Army and served in Texas until 1931. He entered the Army Air Forces on 11 February 1942 and was sent overseas on 8 September 1942.

At 0954 hours, the formation leader decided it was unwise to continue under the adverse weather conditions and a wide turn was executed at 21,000 feet and the formation headed for base. Suddenly four or five FW 190´s appeared out of the clouds to attack the group. The pilot, Capt. Friend, having lagged slightly on the homeward turn was immediately attacked by an FW 190 coming in on a steep dive at about 3 o´clock. The #3 engine was hit, caught fire and they left the formation apparently under control. Meanwhile two or three other attacks were made on him and the next time he was observed, fire was enveloping his aircraft along the fuselage to the tail. Seven parachutes were seen to leave the ship at this point. The only other information that his group had had on this crew is that 2nd Lt Frederick, Bombardier of the crew, was washed ashore, dead. This information was from the German Official Report, 17 July 1943 to the International Red Cross.

The entire crew of nine was killed. Eight of them are listed on the Walls of the Missing and only 2nd Lt Frederick is buried at Margraten.

Before crashing, the pilot released some of the bombs trying to save the plane and its crew. Unfortunately five bombs hit the town Brielle, The Netherlands, killing 22 civilians.