Staff Sergeant John R. McGrath was born on November 4, 1923, in Eagle Grove, Iowa, to Evert and Mary McGrath. He graduated from high school in 1941 and attended Eagle Grove Junior College for one year before transferring to Coe College.
McGrath ended his college studies when he entered the United States Army on January 27, 1943. He began his basic training at Sheppard Field, Texas, where he qualified for combat crew training. In April 1943, he continued his training as an aerial gunner at the Army Air Forces training base at Laredo, Texas. He then transferred to Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he completed an Army aviation mechanics course specializing in the B-24 Liberator.
After completing his training, McGrath was transferred to an Air Force replacement center, where he was assigned to a combat crew. The crew completed additional training together before being assigned to an operational unit.
McGrath was eventually assigned to the 782nd Bombardment Squadron, 465th Bombardment Group, of the Fifteenth Army Air Force. He served as the nose gunner aboard the B-24 Liberator Old Dutch Cleanser, serial number 42-52575.
The crew departed the United States on April 15, 1944, and arrived at their operational base at Pantanella Air Field in Italy, on May 1, 1944. Old Dutch Cleanser subsequently completed eight bombing missions.
The Mission of June 6, 1944
On June 6, 1944, the mission was to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Nine B-24s from the 782nd Bombardment Squadron took off at approximately 0800 hours.
During the final approach to the target, Old Dutch Cleanser was struck by enemy flak in its No. 2 engine. The damage caused the engine to catch fire, damaged the fuel-transfer system, and resulted in leaking fuel. Despite the damage, the aircraft was able to continue to the target and release its bomb load.
The formation then began its return flight toward Italy. Two aircraft were lost to enemy flak during the withdrawal.
The crew of Old Dutch Cleansers, aware of the difficulties facing their aircraft, continued toward home. After crossing the Yugoslavian coast, Old Dutch Cleanser began losing airspeed and fell behind the formation. Several B-24s remained with the crippled aircraft in an attempt to provide protection for the crew.
The aircraft continued to lose altitude. In an effort to remain airborne, the crew began throwing equipment and anything else they could spare from the aircraft. Eventually, with the aircraft still descending, the crew prepared for a water landing.
At approximately 1210 hours, Old Dutch Cleanser struck the water approximately 60 miles off the coast. The aircraft remained afloat, allowing members of the crew to escape.
The pilot, copilot, bombardier, radio operator, and a waist gunner were killed in the crash. The surviving crew members inflated their life vests and evacuated the aircraft.
The navigator, engineer, and another waist gunner were able to reach and hold onto a floating aircraft tire. SSgt. McGrath, however, became separated from the other survivors and was alone in the rough sea.
Several B-24s circled the crash site, observing the survivors in the water and noting their position. Sea-rescue aircraft were dispatched to the area.
The navigator, engineer, and waist gunner were ultimately rescued. There was initially no sign of McGrath.
The Account of 2Lt. Leppla
An additional account concerning McGrath’s fate appears in a sworn statement by 2Lt. Leppla. According to Leppla’s statement, McGrath’s remains were brought aboard the rescue aircraft and he was declared deceased.
Leppla further stated that McGrath’s remains were subsequently returned to the water. The rescue aircraft was reportedly taking on water because of the rough sea conditions.
This portion of McGrath’s story should be regarded as an unconfirmed account, rather than established fact. The circumstances described in the statement are difficult to reconcile with the available official record, particularly because of military procedures concerning the handling and recovery of deceased personnel. Further examination of the original sworn statement, rescue records, Missing Air Crew Report, and related military documents would be necessary to establish exactly what occurred.
Regardless of the uncertainty surrounding the final moments of his life, the official record recognizes that SSgt. John R. McGrath was lost at sea and his remains were not recovered and returned for burial.
Memorial
SSgt. John R. McGrath is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery in Italy, honoring American service members whose remains were never recovered.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal for his service and sacrifice

Born in Marion Township, Ohio to Mr & Mrs George Brown on June 30, 1909, Elbert Noel “Jack” Brown had at least one sister.
He was living in Audrain County, Missouri when he was inducted into the Army on May 16, 1942.

After training Jack served in Company E, 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division.
They landed at Omaha Beach on the day after DDay on June 7, 1944 and participated in the capture of Isigny-sur-Mer.

While fighting through the grueling hedgerows, Jack was wounded in the head by shrapnel on June 25, 1944.
He was medically evacuated and after surgery recovered from his wounds and eventually rejoined his unit.

On August 30, 1944 during fighting on the outskirts of Brest, Jack was wounded again but this time more seriously.
He passed away from his wounds the following day at a field hospital near Plouzané, France.

PFC Elbert “Jack” Brown is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in France - Plot H Row 2 Grave 6.

When I was visiting the La Futa pass German military cemetery in Italy near Florence, I came across this grave. Just the name Louis van Hees and a birth date but no date of death. Would assume this is Dutch or Belgian citizen (traitor) who fought in the German army in Italy in WOII. But cannot find any more information on this guy. Already checked the Belgian, German and Dutch registers. Can someone help?

Construction of the Kunstbunker (Art Bunker) began in the summer of 1940 in the rock underneath Nuremberg Castle. The project partly made use of pre-existing tunnels and cellars dating back to the Middle Ages. Facilities for guards and staff were included in the complex, and drainage, ventilation, and heating systems ensured that the conditions would help preserve the valuable treasures to be stored inside. Important artifact, paintings, and other art from museums, churches, palaces, and the castle were stored inside, ensuring their survival. Ultimately, most of the historic center of Nuremberg was destroyed by Allied bombing, followed by brutal urban combat at the war’s end, so it it likely that most of these artifacts would not have survived had they not been secured inside the bunker.

Today, the bunker complex is open for tours by the general public.

I originally posted this here seven months ago but since then I have added more information about "The Fortress". If you have any interest in the Battle of Anzio, I suggest you take a look.

Regarding nations like New Zealand or Belgium or South Africa, Czech Republic

Basically; most armies issued gas masks. Most of those armies required the gas mask as art of an infsntry soldiers basic kit. Gas was hardly used in the European theatre outside of the gasing of Polish POWs by the Russians and the Holocaust exterminations. I am trying to find any sources that discuss the practicality of having gas masks issued in such large numbers for "routine" or "normal" tasks outside of chemical warfare.

Cheers

Unpopular WWII opinion:

Some of the most famous WWII commanders are famous partly because they had better publicists than better results.

Who is the best example?

From what I can tell, the Brits did not create a No. 13 Commando unit. Possibly out of "no 13th floor" superstition. Can anyone confirm that? I've got Messenger's "Commandos," and have been scouring the web as best one can these days, but found nothing concrete.

Whist i don't want to flag my personal situation, I would like to honour two uncles.

One did not survive, he was shot down in a bomber over Germany ironically in the action its renowned for the decision to no longer send his type of bomber over Germany. I'll visit his grave in Germany thats my plan.

My second uncle survived, he was a torpedo bomber pilot who served throughout the war but survived which is ironic as his history is not known for survivors.

Anyway I wanted to say - Thanks for their service - lest we forget - I've never forgotten.

He was in the 97th infantry. A couple of these are obvious such as Bamberg, Prague, Plzen, Troisdorf, and Siegburg.

The cities I am not sure about
Bernklau - Bezvěrov?
Nuberg - Nuremberg?
plan - I have no idea

I’m looking to read some books on World War II. specifically about the battle of Iwo Jima, the battle of Saipan and the battle of Tarawa.
When I was watching the military YouTube channel about the World War II island hopping battles a marine said that he thought the battle of Saipan was worse and then you have mad dog saying they will never be another one like it referring to iwo. I know it’s people’s different perspective about their experience in different battles on the islands, but if anybody could give me in their personal opinion, some great books to read about the battles and the original Marine Raiders.
Thanks

Hi, I have a question: why did Hitler attack Poland? As far as I know, he wanted to unite Danzig with the Corridor, but prior to the attack, the claim was made that they were invading because the German minority was being mistreated by the Poles—subjected to mass killings, and so on. So, my question is: is there any truth to that?