John H. Dilg was born on July 25, 1919. served in the 322nd Bomb Group as a First Lieutenant and the pilot of the B-26 #41-31903 IH*T during World War II.
On the morning of November 26, 1944, they took off from A-61 airfield in Beauvais-Tillé, France en route to the base of the 409th Army Air Corps (A-48 airfield) in Bretigny France. They were scheduled to lead a bombing mission the next day to Berlin, Germany. 06:52, it was a dark and cloudy morning with limited visibility. The pilot, John H. Dilg, had limited nighttime flying experience. He undershot the runway hitting a high tension wire carrying 15,000 volts. The aircraft skidded across the ground catching fire. It came to a stop and the two 1,000 lb. bombs they were carrying exploded. Before the explosion Engineer/Gunner Leonard D. Metzger and Tail Gunner Harold E. Horney escaped through a rear exit and survived. The five other men on board were killed (including 1Lt Dilg).
1Lt Dilg is now buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York, USA. His name is commemorated on a monument located at Great Dunmow, England and is listed under the 555th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium.
B-26 #41-31903 aircrew:
1Lt John H. Dilg - Pilot
1Lt William Haban - Navigator
2Lt Wilber D. Van Pelt - Bombardier
2Lt Dale V. Burk - Co-Pilot
T/Sgt Leo D. Balcom - Radio Operator
S/Sgt Leonard D. Metzger - Mechanic
S/Sgt Harold E. Horney - Rear Gunner
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net