A-20 flown by 1st Lt. Robert E. Stockwell on 12 May 44
Lt. Stockwell KIA, Lt. Jedinak POW, Ssgt Foster KIA, Ssgt Rust POW
From the archives of the 671st Bomb Sq.: "S/Sgt. Foster who had finished a tour in the Southwest Pacific Theater
before joining the 671st in August was rated as one of the best gunners in theGroup and was someone the
less-experienced crews could go to for advice and be sure it was the right kind."
The afternoon mission on 12 May 44, the 46th for the 416th Bomb Group was to a Noball site at Beauvoir, France. On the bomb run, Lt. Stockwell's aircraft received a direct hit in the open bomb bay, just after release of their bombs, causing an explosion within the aircraft. Ssgt Rust was the tunnel gunner and able to exit through the ventral opening. Lt. Jedinak, the Bombardier/Navigator, after much difficulty, was able to clear the aircraft through his escape hatch. Lt. Stockwell and Ssgt Foster went down with the aircraft. This sensational photo was widely published at the time and since.
"Goin' Home" courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Band