The crew of the B-17 #43-37831 "Lady Velma" during a mission to bomb the marshaling yards at Hannover, Germany collided with another B-17 (42-102972 "Heavenly Cent") with the loss of nearly all the men.

According to www.honorstate.org 236 soldiers were killed in action on March 14, 1945. These are the stories of 18 of those soldiers:

INCIDENT

9 casualties related to the #42-102972 Heavenly Cent incident on March 14, 1945. 571st Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy, 8th AF.

Pilot: Lt. Roy R Creasman Jr, NC https://www.fold3.com/page/638655273-roy-r-creasman/stories

Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Joseph M McAllister, OR https://www.fold3.com/page/638591451-joseph-m-mc-allister/stories

Navigator: 2nd Lt. Michael J Burcin, OH https://www.fold3.com/page/638443232-michael-j-burcin/stories

Bombardier: Sgt. Boyce L Pruitt, OK https://www.fold3.com/page/638508986-boyce-l-pruitt/stories

Radio Operator: Sgt. Alvin Goldberg, NY https://www.fold3.com/page/86693501-alvin-goldberg/stories

Tail Gunner: CPL Carlton D Fisher, OH https://www.fold3.com/page/84304785-carlton-d-fisher/stories

Top Turret Gunner: Sgt. George W Gouldthrite. WA https://www.fold3.com/page/638659783-george-w-gouldthrite/stories

Waist Gunner: Sgt. Verne R Gray, CO https://www.fold3.com/page/638670671-verne-r-gray/stories

Ball turret gunner: Sgt. Robert F Powers, MI https://www.fold3.com/page/529878168-robert-f-powers/stories

9 casualties related to the #43-37831 Lady Velma incident on March 14, 1945. 570th Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group, 8th AF

Pilot: Lt. Willard W Kast, MI https://www.fold3.com/page/638683127-willard-w-kast/stories

Co Pilot: Lt. John R Romkema, MN https://www.fold3.com/page/529878501-john-r-romkema/stories

Navigator: Lt. Robert G Peterson, NY https://www.fold3.com/page/529876969-robert-g-peterson/stories

Bombardier: Sgt. Daniel L McKinney, IN https://www.fold3.com/page/638436700-daniel-l-mc-kinney/stories

Radio Operator Sgt. John S Popesen, PA https://www.fold3.com/page/638755823-john-s-popesen/stories

Spot Jammer: S/Sgt. Julian A Budziak, IL https://www.fold3.com/page/638319619-julian-a-budziak/stories

Top Turret Gunner: Sgt. Paul M Akosevich, CA https://www.fold3.com/page/639639038-paul-m-akosevich/stories

Tail Gunner: Sgt. Clyde S Belveal, CO

https://www.fold3.com/page/638635812-clyde-s-belveal/stories

Right Waist Gunner: S/Sgt. Dorsett R Shipman, VA https://www.fold3.com/page/638671333-dorsett-r-shipman/stories

The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This tactical role was more attuned to the needs of ground forces. For instance, the Group bombed the coast near Caen fifteen minutes before the landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944. The Group also carried out humanitarian missions, dropping food supplies for the Dutch in the final weeks of the war. The only man to fly 100 missions, Hewitt "Buck" Dunn, did so with the 390th Bomb Group.