Political Quotes

“I wish to honor George C. Williams and the crew of the 42-299-28 B-17 Flying Fortress that was shot down over Normandy, France, during WWII 75 years ago on July 4, 1943. George C. Williams, bombardier from Warren, Trumbull County, OH, was killed in action. While assisting the nose gunner, his chute accidentally opened inside the aircraft. Pilot Olof Ballinger offered up his own parachute, but George refused. It is believed that he attempted to fly the plane after all the crew had evacuated. Pilot Olof Maximilian Ballinger, of Newton Falls, Trumbull County, OH, evaded capture and walked alone, with no compass, over the Pyrenees Mountains. He reached safety in Spain in November 1943 and returned to the U.S. He eventually moved to California. Harry W. Basucher, Jr., of Cincinnati, OH, was killed in action inside the plane by enemy cannon fire. Copilot John Marshall Carrah, from Chico, CA, evaded capture and escaped to Switzerland and then to Spain and returned to the U.S. in March 1944 and continued to assist in the war effort. He was a career U.S. Air Force officer retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Byron J. Gronstall, from Van Nuys, CA, who evacuated the plane, was captured by a German patrol. He was a prisoner of war at Stalag 7A. William C. Howell, from Goldsboro, NC, who evaded capture, was seriously wounded. Francis E.…”