Howard Alexander Shaw


S/Sgt    33253277    614th
Pennsylvania
1920 - 1943

Engr / Top Turret onboard 42-31098 (Penny's Thunderhead)


     

                                                                                 Margraten cemetery, Netherlands
                                                                                 Plot : B , Row : 4 , Grave : 4.



      Howard was born Oct 4, 1920, West Decatur, Pennsylvania.
      After 4 years of Highschool and being employed by the Woolridge Coal Co, Howard enlisted the air corps
      on Sept 17, 1942

      In 1943 he arrived in England to join the 401st BG and he flew 3 missions
      The last mission on 11 December 1943, Target: Emden, the plane was hit by flak and Howard and 7 more
      crew members had to bail out over Holland
      Unfortunately, he fell in the water and did not reached the shore...
      He was found on June 22, 1944 and was buried on June 23, 1944
      He was awarded with a Purple Heart Medal


Individual casualty questionaire

Told by 2nd Lt. John Barret , Navigator.

- Did they bailed out ? : Yes.

- Where ? : Northern Holland

- Last contact just prior to loss of plane ? : None

- Where were they last seen ? : All bailing out.

- Any explanations of their fate ? :

      When I went out I saw land below and also five chutes open, which I assume to be , Shaw - Cope
      Masterman -Nielsen - Bargfrede, because I know Carlson an Robinson went out 5 minutes later
      ( Carlson told me later ).
      I delayed my jump from around 20.000 Ft to around 1000 Ft.
      I landed in water a couple hundred yards from mainland ( Holland ).
      I fell that those men who opened chutes at altitude drifted out to sea and drowned.
      Carlson and Robinson went out later over water and Carlson fortunately was rescued by Germans.
      I believe Robinson also drowned.

- Total number of missions of above crew members ? : 3.

- Date and destinations if possible ? : Nov 26,   1943 Bremen
                                                                     Dec 1,     1943 Solingen
                                                                     Dec 11,   1943 Emden






Captain Kaufman's first crew.

Back Row: L-R Capt. Kaufman , Lt. F. B. Robinson , Lt. R. C. Fitzgerald , Lt. J. A. Barrett
Front Row: Sgt. F. R. Cope , Sgt. HOWARD ALEXANDER SHAW , Sgt. D. H. Carlson , Sgt. T. R. Nielson , Sgt. H. L. Bargfrede , Sgt.E. W. Masterman

Photo Courtesy of Rick Kaufman.



The Clearfield Progress, Clearfield, PA.

          

JUNE 10 1943                                           OCTOBER 6, 1943                                    AUGUST 27, 1994




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