Lars Edward Larsen was born on January 6, 1913, in New York, New York County, New York. He was the son of Eric and Carolina Georgina (Korst) Larsen. He was married to Helen Hood Ralston Larsen. He had worked for the Wright Aeronautical Corporation before entering military service. He served in the 701st Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-24 #42-50579 'Little Audrey' during World War II.

On September 27, 1944, B-24J “Little Audrey” of the 445th Bomb Group was heavily damaged during a German fighter attack. The aircraft suffered severe structural and system failures, including a burning engine, destroyed oxygen and hydraulic systems, failed communications, and heavy battle damage across the wings and fuselage. Several crew members were wounded, including the tail gunner and waist gunners, and the bomber struggled to remain airborne on reduced power. The crew attempted to fly west toward Allied-held territory, but with failing systems and low altitude, they were unable to escape danger. A friendly P-51 fighter briefly approached but could not assist because Little Audrey’s radio was destroyed. As the damaged bomber crossed the Rhine River at low altitude, it came under intense ground fire. Pilot Donald N. Reynolds descended further and prepared the crew for an emergency landing. The aircraft crash-landed near Polch, Germany, around noon.

Sgt Larsen was Killed in Action in the incident and is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, Kassel Mission Historical Project, weremember.abmc.gov