HORTON, ALLEN D Mar 6, 1944 MIA age 20 KIA Berlin

ALLEN DALE HORTON, b. Oct 21, 1923 Detroit d. Mar 6, 1944 Killed In Action crashed east of Bassum, Germany

Staff Sgt 16149932 Army Air Corps 351^st Bomber Squad 100^th Bomber Group H

Buried Margraten Cemetery, Margratan, Netherlands

Parents: Ray E. & May F.
Siblings: William Arthur (1919 England), Kenneth Harry (1922 New York)

Father Ray was born in Canada and mother May in England. The family with oldest son immigrated from Canada in 1922. The lived in Elba, New York along with Ray’s stepdaughter Elsie L. and his two brothers Harry and Clarence. They worked as muck farmers. Not a surprise that factory life in Detroit may have proven a drawn. As for many immigrants who started out on a farm, regular wages in a factory was a big draw out of the rural areas.

By 1930 they settled in the house at 14825 Dacosta in the Brightmoor area of Detroit; property is now yet another empty lot in that area. But in the 1930’s it was full of houses and families with jobs like carpenter, engineer, postal clerk, meter reader, marine mechanic. These were jobs that were physical, titles that were clear about what work they did.
Oldest boy William, blue eyes, blonde hair, enlisted 30 Apr 1941. Kenneth served from 1942 to 1945; he had red hair. And Allen registered for the draft 30 June 1940 in Detroit at age 16. He was employed at Western Golf and Country Club in Redford; built 1926 it burned down in 2018. Allen was 140 lbs, blue eyes and brown hair, 5’7”. Nov 7, 1942 in Detroit he enlisted in the Air Corps. He completed 3 years of high school, didn't graduate.


B-17 Crew after a Mission
 

The plane was a Douglas B-17G-DL Fortress. On Jan 8, 1944 Lt. Spence, Lt. Rasmussen and Sgts Horton, Willsey and Gverovich joined the 100th. Also in Jan.1944, Lt. Handorf, Lt. Dewey & Sgts Verdeur & Ford were assigned to the 351st. March 6, 1944 the B-17 #42-38011 “Kina a Ruff” was returning from a mission to Klein Mahow, Berlin. This crew was flying as Deputy Group lead and assumed the lead position when the leader was shot down. The formation was enroute home when a ME 109 came in at 1 o'clock low and sprayed front of A/C with 20mm. Wing tanks began to burn and Willsey says he "pulled the emergency bomb bay door release, snapped on my chute, and tapped the pilot on the shoulder. He and the co pilot were getting ready to bail out. I stepped through the open bomb bay doors and, while still in the prop wash, the air craft blew up blowing the TG clear. I delayed opening my chute until going through the last layer of clouds about 10,000 feet. The TG & I landed about 60 yards apart. Lawrence had his leg broken and told me to try to escape and leave him alone. About 3 hours later I was captured by some German civilians with shot guns."This would be one of the last letters written home by 2nd Lt Norman Rasmussen, Bombardier on the Crew of 1st Lt Edward Handorf.

B-17 Handorf Crew

1st Lt	Edward Handorf	P	KIA	6-Mar-44	Berlin
2nd Lt	Frederick G. Spence	CP	KIA	6-Mar-44	Berlin
2nd Lt	John W. Dewey	NAV	KIA	6-Mar-44	Berlin
2nd Lt	Norman L. Rasmussen	BOM	KIA	6-Mar-44	Berlin
T/Sgt	Henry C. Verdeur	ROG	KIA	6-Mar-44	Berlin
T/Sgt	Charles H. Ford	TTE	KIA	6-Mar-44	Berlin
S/Sgt	Allen D. Horton	BTG	KIA	6-Mar-44	Berlin
S/Sgt	John L. Willsey	WG	POW	6-Mar-44	Berlin
S/Sgt	John J. Gverovich	WG	KIA	6-Mar-44	Berlin
S/Sgt	Fair C. Lawrence	TG	POW	6-Mar-44	erlin



Oblt. Hans-Heinrich König



 

 

 

The ME 109 was a German Messerschmidt plane flown by Oblt. Hans-Heinrich König of the 3./JG 1. Credited with 28 victories to his name, he was killed in an airbattle with a B-17 May 24, 1944; both planes crashed on the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a sense of what it took to fly a B-17 watch this training video; note some the familiar faces in this Hollywood production:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL-zRFEt9lI