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LT  Raymond E. HARNEY

UNIT: 349th BOMB Sqdn POSITION: P 

Lt Raymond Harney KIA September 28,1944 on mission to Merseburg. (Photo courtesy of Raymond Harney JR.)

Dog Tags of Lt Raymond Harney, Hubert J.Burleigh,Jr and Cpl Robert C.Minear.  Photo courtesy of Jan Zdiarsky

SERIAL #: O-523208 STATUS: KIA
MACR: 09373 CR: 09373

Comments1: 28 SEP 44 MERSEBURG (FLAK)

COMMENTS & NOTES

MEMO 1:

CREW
                       MERSEBURG

1st Lt Raymond E.Harney           P   KIA    28/9/44
2nd Lt William R.Kimball           CP  KIA    28/9/44  A/C  44-6306
2nd Lt Charles M.Hamrick      NAV  KIA    28/9/44  MACR #9373,Microfiche ,#3436
2nd Lt Warren.M.French       BOM  KIA    28/9/44
   Cpl Thadeus L.Gotz          TTE         (requested RFS)
   Cpl Hubert J.Burleigh,Jr.       ROG  KIA    28/9/44
   Cpl Melvin F.Cordray           BTG   POW 28/9/44
   Cpl Robert C.Minear            WG   KIA    28/9/44   (MOVES TO TTE ON THIS CREW)
   Cpl James J.Sorenson           WG  POW 28/9/44  sn# 17155212
   Cpl John H .Bundner            TG         (requested RFS)

349th Sqdn.  Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 22/8/44. On 28/9/44,T.L.Gotz was not 
aboard the A/C and  Robert  Minear was flying as engineer.   A S/Sgt JACK D.FRANCISCO was aboard 
as tail gunner and became a POW

Crew was on it's eighth mission.

 EYEWITNESS:  "A/C #306 was hit in #2 engine by flak at 1210 hours in the target area. The engine caught fire, but was quickly put out when it pulled away from the formation. It then pulled under our group but began to fall back when #4 engine was also feathered.  Later #4 started running and it was thought to be this aircraft that followed our  formation 28 to 30 minutes before going down into the undercast near 5051N and 1057E with P-51s escorting.

James J. Sorenson
  We do not have the track to the target for the 29 Sep 44 Merseburg mission.  I have enclosed what information we have, you will note that it is not the complete Field Order (N0# 434). When I return to the Archives at Suitland, Maryland I will try and find the maps with the track marked as well as the complete field order.

 Was nice to see you in Little Rock and looking forward to seeing you at the next reunion.  Should you need anything further from the files. Let me know and if I do not send more information on the Merseburg mission drop me a note as I might forget..

 The above airmen were all promoted to S/Sgt 11 Sept 1944
 Ted Gotz and John Bundner were removed from combat duty,
 Bob Minear was moved from LWG to TTE
 Jack Francisco replaced Bundner
 Ted Gotz, Melvin Corday and John Bundner are all deceased at this writing. (1994)
 The whereabouts of Jack Francisco is unknown.
This from a letter to Paul West in 1994…

MISSIONS OF S/SGT JAMES J. SORENSON (mpf 2002)

1. 08/09/44 MAINZ
2. 09/09/44 DUSSELDORF
3. 10/09/44 NURNBURG
 14/09/44 OPERATION FRANTIC (RECALLED)
4. 18/09/44 WARSAW, POLAND (2nd RUSSIAN SHUTTLE)
5. 19/09/44 SZOLNOK, HUNGARY
 22/09/44 ITALY TO ENGLAND
6. 25/09/44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
7. 26/09/44 BREMEN
8. 28/09/44 MERSEBURG (SHOT DOWN)

ENDED UP IN STALAG LUFT IV

The loss on 14.00 o`clock at Schwickershausen/Germany. The Pilot Ramony E. Harney and the Bombardier French  was killed at the crash on a field. 3 Crewmembers was killed by German policeofficers on the Nordheim-area. The radio operator was killed from a NSDAP-Kreisleiter with Name Andreas Ingebrand from Neustadt/Saale. This NSDAP-Kreisleiter to die in November 1948 in Landsberg/Lech - death by hanging.

MEMO 2:


			

             
            

         

         
KIA / MIA / EVA / INT INFORMATION: 
  
         

  

    TARGET:
			Merseburg
    DATE: 
			1944-09-28
     
  

  

    AIRCRAFT:
	(44-6306)
    CAUSE:
			FLAK
     
  



			


			

            
BURIAL INFORMATION

            

  

    PLOT:
			
    ROW:
			
     
  

  

    GRAVE:
			
    CEMETERY:
			
     
  



			
			
            

			
 
            
           
PHOTOS:

           
                                  
Dogtags recovered from the men KIA and POW from Lt Harney Crew
                 
Dog Tag collected from the remains of Lt Harney by Germans.  (Photo courtesy of Jan Z) 
                 
Lt Raymond E. Harney Gravestone at Ft Snelling Cemetery in Minn.  
Lt Harney and Lt French Grave Marker kept in Church attic for 70 years translation " Here Rests in God 2 American Flyers"
"Here Rests in God 2 American Flyers" 28-9-44

           
 

       
SERVED IN: 

				
Crew 1
			
	
        
		
        ID:
			2186