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name
HASKELL, Roger Clinton - Date of
birth
16 November 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
York, York County, Maine -
Hometown
York County, Maine
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31218303 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
729th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 July 1944 - Place of
death
Sangerhausen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 15 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert F. Haskell (father)
Flora B. Haskell (mother)
Albert F. Haskell (brother)
Ruth P. Haskell (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97616 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil plant
MACR: 7827
More information
S/Sgt Roger C. Haskell graduated from York High School in 1940.Following statement made by 1st Lt John A. Zimmerman; about three to four minutes after the I.P. we had another Combat Wing coming in to our left. After this Wing went in front of our Group, we were botthered by prop wash. The lead aircraft (B-17G, 42-97616) seemed to pass over on top of #2 (B-17G, 42-97764) and at the same time both aircraft were apparently hit by prop-wash. Also it is believed that the two aircraft were attempting to change positions so that 97764 would have the lead. They collided with A/C 764 hitting the rear section of A/C 616. The rest of the formation banked to the left to avoid the two aircraft. One of the planes with its tail off descended rapidly for approximately 3,000 feet and then disintegrated. Bombs were observed falling from this plane as apparently they had been salvoed. The other plane went into a vertical dive and disappeared into the clouds which were then at approximately 10,000 feet. The tail gunner on one of the planes (believed to have been 616) parachuted. In addition there were five other chutres observed.
S/Sgt Haskell was initially buried at the cemetery Sangerhausen, Grave 9.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, Maine Birth Index
Photo source: Tom Verheijden, Peter Schouteten