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  Combat  Crews  Individual Photos  Photos  POW  KIA  MACR  Overseas Graves  TAPS LAUREN H. QUILLEN - 427th BS
 (Assigned 427BS: 06 July 1943)
 
 2Lt  Lauren H. Quillen (P)(KIA),
2Lt John R. Homan (CP)(KIA),
 2Lt Bevan W. Colby, Jr. (N)(KIA),
2Lt William N. Irish (B)(KIA)
 
T/Sgt Eldon F. Richter (E)(KIA),
T/Sgt Salvador J. Di Cosmo (R)(KIA),S/Sgt Elbert O. Price (BTG)(POW),
S/Sgt Joseph H. Brown (LWG)(POW),
 Sgt Paul W. Abernathy (RWG)(POW),
S/Sgt Arthur K. Sauer (TG)(POW)
 
One and only combat mission of the Quillen crew:Mission #61, 19 August 1943, mission to Gilze-Rijen, The Netherlands, in 
B-17F 42-5392 Stric Nine (427BS) GN-X.  B-17 was hit by flak and caught fire.  
Some of the crew bailed out over the Dutch coast (presumed off Hiock van 
Holland).  The B-17 then crashed into the North Sea.  The bodies of Lt's Lauren H. 
Quillen (P), Bevan W. Colby, Jr. (N), William N. Irish (B) and T/Sgt Elden F. 
Richter (B) washed ashore and were buried in a local Dutch cemetery.  Their 
bodies were later reinterred.  2Lt Bevin W. Colby, Jr. is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery at 
Martgraten, Netherlands.
 
  S/Sgt Arthur K. Sauer
 
[Photo courtesy of Shannon Neaves, granddaughter of Sgt Sauer - Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht] |  |