Monuments
B-24 Liberator (42-40747) 'Heavy Date' Memorial
B-24 Liberator 'Heavy Date' (42-40747) Monument
Name:
Irving J. Balsam
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
12183535
Unit:
567th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-01-07
State:
New York
Cemetery:
Mount Zion Cemetery, Queens, New York
Plot:
Soc.:KREMENITZER; Path:30R; Gate:1; Map:522
Row:
Grave:
6
Decoration:
Comments:
SSgt Irving J. Balsam, gunner of the B-24 Liberator 42-40747 “Heavy Date”, took off from Station 114 Hetel, Norfolk, UK on a bombing mission over Ludwigshafen’s chemical plant. While the mission was successful, “Heavy Date” and three other bombers were shot down on their return trip by German fighters. Five aviators, including Balsam, did not survive. Balsam is now listed as MIA.