Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
HASKELL, Roger Clinton
Date of birth
16 November 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
York, York County, Maine
Hometown
York County, Maine

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