Paul Biri was born onFebruary 6, 1919 and was from New Orleans. He serves as Bombardier on the B-17 Treble Four which was shot down on December 24, 1944. Biri Survived. He also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
On December 24, 1944 the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines, to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. B-17 “Treble Four” (44-8444) was chosen as lead for the 487th Bomb Group, which led the entire 8th Air Force that day.
The crew roster on that day:
B-17G Treble Four” (44-8444 )– 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomber Group, 4th Bomber Wing, 8th Air force:
Harriman, Robert W – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA Castle, Frederick W – Brig Gen – Air Leader/Copilot – KIA MacArty, Henry D – 1/Lt – Navigator – Bailed out; survived Auer, Edmund F – Capt – Pilotage Navigator –Bailed out; Survived Biri, Paul L – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Bailed out; survived Procopio, Bruno S – 1/Lt – Radar Operator – Bailed out; died form wounds next day Rowe Jr, Claude L – 1/Lt – Off. Tail Gunner – Bailed out; died from wounds next day Hudson, Lowell B – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – Bailed out; survived Jeffers, Quentin W – T/Sgt – Engineer Gunner – Bailed out; survived Swain, Lawrence H – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – Bailed out; found dead
Brigadier General Frederick W. Castle, Commanding Officer of the 4th Bomb Wing, flew as air leader with Harriman's crew in the copilot's position. Copilot Lt Rowe moved to the tail gunner's position as Officer Tail Gunner and formation observer, as was the custom. The 487th Bomb Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. BG Castle refused to dump their bombs afraid it might injure friendly troops below. He directed the crew to bail out while he and Pilot Harriman flew the aircraft and subsequently shot down by enemy aircraft. Five of the crew died; five survived. A memorial to the plane is located near the crash site near Tinlot, Belgium in the province of Liege.
Brig Gen Frederick W Castle, wing commander, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for action on 24 Dec 1944 when he kept a burning B-17 from crashing until other members of the crew had parachuted to safety.
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