Ernest Armand Flores
MilitaryErnest Flores was Right Waist Gunner on B-24D #42-51112 on the 31 March 1945 mission to Brunswick, Germany. Hit by a German Me262 jet fighter, the Liberator had one engine out, its Navigator was badly wounded and Pilot Bussell tried to crash-land the ship, with all the crew on board, in a field between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany. Navigator Murray D. Robinson and Top Turret Gunner Saul Katz were killed in the crash. The 8 other crew members were made Prisoners of War (POWs) including Ernie Flores. Missing Air Crew Report – MACR 13735.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37574497
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18076336 at enlistment, then O-758532
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13063119 at enlistment, then O-2059523
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38387437
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13146259
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
22 November 1922 | Miami, Gila County, Arizona, United States | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
31 March 1945 | After the crash-landing of B-24D #42-51112 between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany. NARA WWII POW records : ”Interned in Germany. Returned to Military Control 12 October 1945.” | |
Other Discharged |
12 October 1945 | ||
Died |
5 October 1986 | San Diego, California | |
Born |
Yuma, Yuma County, Arizona |
Revisions
MACR 13735
WWII Draft card
WWII POW records
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death file
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Liberator Men of Old Buc