World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Roland J. Bender
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Wisconsin
Honored By
John Meurs
SERVICE NUMBER 16116162. BALL TURRET GUNNER WITH THE 303RD BOMB GROUP, 358TH BOMB SQUADRON OF THE 8TH ARMY AIR FORCE, BASED IN ENGLAND. ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1944, HIS AIRCRAFT, THE B-17G, SERIAL # 42-97972, WAS ATTACKED BY GERMAN FIGHTERS DURING A MISSION TO THE ALTENBEKEN RAIL ROAD VIADUCT IN GERMANY. A FIRE STARTED BETWEEN ENGINES 3 AND 4, HE WAS ABLE TO SAVE HIMSELF BY PARACHUTE AND WAS TAKEN PRISONER.