Posted by Normand Cote on March 28, 2012 at 5:05pm
My 2nd cousin 2nd Lt. Rosaire B. Bilodeau was the co-pilot of the B17 "Texas Longhorn", of the 96thBG, 413thSQ, who took part in the Schweinfurt raid "Bloody Thursday", where ball bearing factories were their targets. His last mission was to be over Kiel, Germany, where there were marshalling yards, and submarine facilities. Kiel was their primary target, but due to the weather they were diverted to the secondary target, Hamburg, There they encountered heavy flak. The plane was hit between the #1 and #2 engines. Seven of the crew bailed out and were captured by the Germans, and served 18 months in the Infamous Stalag 17. The Pilot Lt. George C. Parker and my cousin co-pilot 2nd Lt. Rosaire B. Bilodeau and the Bombardier Lt. Graham H. Ladd went down with the plane. Where did we get such courageous men? They were all part of the "Greatest Generation" May we never forget their sacrifices for their country.
Read more…
Comments