Memorial

More information

He enlisted January 14, 1943, and took his basic training at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Before entering the service he resided in Roanoke, Virginia where he worked for the Norfolk and Western Railway company. He had previously worked here.

At 0931 hours just north of Dieppe, A/C 887 received a burst of flak in left wing. A/C peeled out of formation under control with either #1 or #2 engine burning. At 0945 hours, aircraft observed burning on water at 5024N-0057E. Eight chutes were reported.

The big bomber was shot down close to the French coast on a bombing mission about 9:30 a.m. on 5 June 1944, as the terrific pre-invasion bombing of the West Wall reached its climax. Sgt Aulthouse's wife and mother have heard from members of the families of all of the other members of that B-17's crew, but none of the crewmen themselves has been heard from. The Gettysburg flier was a veteran of 10 months of combat with the Eighth Air Force, flying from a base in England. He and other members of his crew held Presidential citations for their services in bombing German ball bearing plants in October 1943.