Mark L Golden
Military ROLL OF HONOUR222nd Combat Group
Shot down at Ohlum on 6/18/44 in B-17 #43-37714, Killed in Action (KIA).
Lt. Golden was born and grew up in San Francisco. He joined the National Guard, and then transitioned into the regular army at the start of the war, becoming a pilot. He was assigned to the 447th bomber group, 708th bomber squadron based out of Rattlesden, UK (Near Norwich). After 7 uneventful missions, including bombing runs over Normandy during D-day, the crew flew in a formation over Hanover, Germany. The mission was to bomb an Oil depot in Misburg, Germany, just East of Hanover. Over target the plane was hit in the wing by flak, and then after bombs away flak exploded within the plane causing severe smoke damage. The radioman and navigator were injured in the blast, and the plane was un-flyable. Lt. Golden veered the plane out of formation, and leveled it as best he could to allow everyone to jump. A minute after it was believed everyone was out of the plane it exploded in the air. 9 parachutes were seen, but no one ever saw Lt. Golden again. The rest of the crew was quickly captured and turned over to the German Army. During interrogation, the German's extensively questioned the whereabouts of Lt. Golden, but none of the crew had seen him. He was never seen again and presumed killed either by the plane or by civilians on the ground.
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: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39856335
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Crew Chief, Engineer, Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cactus Pete
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Due Back
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fuddy Duddy
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
Missions
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Memorial
- Known as: Rattlesden Control Tower
- Site type: Memorial
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
San Francisco, California, USA | 27 February 1921 | |
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
Ohlum, Germany | 18 June 1944 | |
Buried |
Netherlands American Cemetery | Plot G Row 20 Grave 17 Netherlands American Cemetery AM Begraafplaats 1 6269 NA Margraten Netherlands |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
"History of the 447th Bomb Group" - Doyle Shields, page 332, pages 122-137
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56299140/mark-l-golden
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9170/images/42861_6473…
Moved dates from 'Died' to 'Born' event. Not a verified birth date though.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5902 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database