Bérismenil, Belgium

1.8 kilometers from the center of Bérismenil at the intersection of two small roads, there stands a memorial to The Joker⇗ (B-17G 42-97124) crew who were shot down and crashed near Bérismenil, Belgium. On April 13, 1944, on a mission to the ball-bearing plant in Schweinfurt, Germany, The Joker was attacked by enemy fire that caused it to lose altitude before plummeting into the ground. Local residents rushed to the crash in hopes of finding survivors, but they discovered only the remains of one airman. They noted three parachutes in the distance belonging to crewmembers who bailed out. Of the crew, one was killed in action, seven were captured and taken prisoners of war, and two evaded capture. 

The Joker crewmembers: 

• 2nd Lt. Herbert Ture Swanson⇗, Age: 27 (Pilot, POW) 

Hometown: Anaconda, Montana

Missions flown: 4

• 2nd Lt. Donald Oril Smith⇗, Age: 19 (Co-Pilot, Evaded capture) 

Hometown: Brookline, Massachusetts 

Missions flown: 3

• 2nd Lt. Charles Oteen White⇗, Age: 24 (Navigator, POW) 

Missions flown: 3

• 2nd Lt. Austin William Dunning⇗, Age: 27 (Bombardier, POW) 

Hometown: Bloomington, Illinois

Missions flown: 2

• S/Sgt. Clarence Matthew Wieseckel⇗, Age: 20 (Radio Operator, Evaded capture)

Hometown: Sherwood, Wisconsin

Missions flown: 3

• S/Sgt. James Harlan Young⇗, Age: 20 (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, KIA)

Hometown: Ontario, California

Missions flown: 2

Resting place: Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France: Plot F, Row 10, Grave 34

• Sgt. Gordon William McIntosh⇗, Age: 19 (Ball Turret Gunner, POW/Wounded)

Missions flown: 2

• Sgt. Edward Frank Zabinski⇗, Age: 22 (Tail Gunner, POW)

Home country: Poland 

Missions flown: 2

• Sgt. Donald Martin Brown⇗, Age: 22 (Waist Gunner, POW)

Hometown: Buffalo, New York

Missions flown: 2

• Sgt. Ralph William Sack⇗, Age: 21 (Waist Gunner, POW)

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Missions flown: 2

Further details about the memorial and location can be found on American War Memorials Overseas, Inc.⇗