Earl H Westerholm
Military ROLL OF HONOURAssigned to 652BS, 25BG, 8AF USAAF. On 9-May-44 the mission to the Azores was routine until the last leg. Just out from Land's End when all hell broke loose. There was a terrible metal ripping sound and some explosions. Bullets and 20mm shells ripped into the rear fuselage wounding 2 crew. Crew fought off 4 x Ju88's, downing one and forcing a second to trail off homewards with smoke from one engine. RAF spitfire escort, responding to the ships mayday, pointed out the damaged undercarriage, whilst the two failed engines also became apparent. Clary Stephenson bellied landed Lands End. 3 x WIA, 5 x RTD. Returned to Duty (RTD). Crashed fatally on take off for weather recon to Azores 6-Jun-44 Killed in Action (KIA).
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Reconnaissance
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15110085 / O-754300
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Enlisted |
San Francisco, CA, USA | 4 February 1943 | |
Other Survived forced landing |
Land's End, Sennen, Penzance TR19 7AA, UK | 9 May 1944 | Survived forced landing combat damaged by Ju88's 9-May-44 Lands End. (RTD). |
Died |
Watton, Thetford IP25, UK | 6 September 1944 | Crashed fatally on take off for weather recon to Azores 6-Jun-44 Killed in Action (KIA). |
Buried |
7 September 1944 | Interred Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial | |
Born |
California | ||
Based |
Watton | 6 September 1944 | Assigned to 652BS, 25BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Alameda County, CA, USA |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/311039296?terms=Earl%20H%20Westerholm
https://www.fold3.com/record/529906701-earl-h-westerholm
https://www.fold3.com/page/90716697-earl-h-westerholm/facts
She Called Him Raymond: A True Story of Love, Loss, Faith and Healing By Ray O'Conor
https://rafwatton.info/she-called-him-raymond-a-true-story-of-love-loss…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56295479/earl-h-westerholm
ABMC, Roll of Honor; Aerial Intelligence of the 8th Air Force, pg 38-39 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia