Name:
Walter E. Hermenau
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
11114262
Unit:
568th Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-04-20
State:
Massachusetts
Cemetery:
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Purple Heart
Comments:
SSgt Walter E. Hermenau, tail gunner of the B-17 42-37890 "Big Friend”/“Rovin' Ramona II", took off from station 153 Framlingham, UK on a bombing mission over Cherbourg’s V1 launch pad. The plane was hit by flak at 1857 just after dropping its bombs. It spun out of formation with a wing and an engine on fire. It exploded in midflight, spreading debris over three townships. Hermenau was thrown from the plane without a parachute.