Memorial

More information

S/Sgt Bilohlavek was graduated from Aquinas Institute and worked at the Camera Works.

He enlisted in Rochester, New York on 14 January 1943. He was overseas in March 1944.

The bombardier, 2nd Lt Thomas P. Morrison, the only survivor, remembered that the crew was assigned a B-17 which had approximately 35 missions. Before take-off the airplane seemed to be in fair condition but when they were out about two hours #1 engine developed trouble.

Some time later the group ran into some moderate flak which hit #2 engine and the airplane began to get somewhat behind the formation. After some time it regained his position and continued with the formation. At that time the pilot advised the crew of the engine trouble and deemed it would be wise to continue with the formation as a means of protection rather than to return.

When they started to climb to boming altitude at 27,000 feet, the airplane again bropped behind the formation and the pilot realized after some time the airplane had to lightened to keep flying and so he ordered to drop the bombs. He then asked the navigator for a heading home.

They flew through overcast for some time, still loosing altitude and the plane went out of control. At that time, also #3 engine began to shoot flames. From that time one he just remembered a blinding flash and his next experience was that he woke up on the ground with two German soldiers dragging him away from the burning wreckage to the airplane.

According to German records S/Sgt Bilohlavekand five other crew members were initially buried at the cemetery of Wittenburg, Germany.