Dave KRAMER

Source : Arnaud Gaté

Parents : Isadore & Rose KRAMER

Siblings : Minnie, Marie & Sam

Source : F Lavernhe

Douglas C-47 - type A-75-DL - s/n 42-101025 Z4*? Chalk #54

Macr: 7271

Mission: #15 - Mission Albany
- Airborne Troops 501ePIR/101eAB - DZ-D (Angoville-au-Plain)

Take Off: Station 464 Merryfieldl, SOMERSET

Shot by flak 01h42 - Explosion

Map Normandy American Cemetery

Dave was the son of Isadore and Rose Brier Kramer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Isadore came to the US from Russia in 1905, Rose came from Austria in 1904. Dave's siblings were Molly, Benny, Minnie, Doris, Edward, Elizabeth and Samuel.

Dave enlisted in the U. S. Air Corp 2 November 1942.

In the early hours of the morning of the 6th June 1944, C-47 aircraft 42-101025, serial number 54 of the 301st Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group left Merryfield airfield in Somerset, England and was making its way in tight formation with other troop carriers across the English Channel to Normandy, France. On board were a crew of four and a passenger load of 18 paratroopers of the 2nd Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment plus equipment (wire, ammunition, and rafts) heading for drop zone D in Normandy France.

All units were to fly across the English Channel and drop into Normandy, five hours prior to the famous seaborne landing. The 501st drop zones were north and east of the town of Carentan. Two battalions were to seize key canal locks at La Barquette and destroy the bridges over the Douve River.

As the aircraft reached the coast of France, heavy cloud and fog scattered their formations while intensive flak barrages added to the confusion. On this night, many would not return home, among these, the brave crew of this C-47 and their eighteen passengers. Shot down out of the sky, their plane crashed in Bois de Limors with all personnel on board. There were no survivors.

Lives lost in this tragedy:

2nd Lieutenant Eugene F. Hennig (Pilot) from Fort Smith, Arkansas;2nd Lieutenant Albert A. Dorrance, Jr. (Co-Pilot) of California; Technical Sergeant Dave Kramer (Crew Chief) from Wisconsin;Corporal James E. Davison (Radio Operator) from Montana;And 18 paratroopers of the 2nd Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.

(Info courtesy Rebecca on Arkansas Ties.)