42-31345       LADY STARDUST II

MACR 5021

              CREW ON MAY 12, 1944

2LT     MILAN MARECEK                    PILOT                 RTD
F/O     HAROLD EASTMAN                 CO-PILOT           RTD
2LT     LAWRENCE P. DEFEO            NAVIGATOR        RTD
2LT     CORNELIUS KOHLMAN          BOMBARDIER    RTD
SSGT  MERLE D. ORCUTT                 ENGINEER          KIA
SSGT  DWIGHT N. MILLER                RADIOMAN         RTD
SGT    SAM N. FAIN                            BT GUNNER       RTD
SGT    ERNEST M. HUGHINGSON     RW GUNNER      RTD
SGT    DONALD F. KEMMANN           LW GUNNER      RTD
SGT    GEORGE BOUCHEK               TAIL GUNNER     RTD

This plane was shot down by enemy fighters and ditched in
the English Channel. 9 crew members were picked up by Air
Sea Rescue. The engineer, Merle Orcutt, was struck in the
head by 20mm gun from attacking German fighter and died
instantly. When the plane ditched, his body could not be
recovered before the plane sank.