Harold A. Polderman was born on May 31, 1918 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was the son of Abraham Polderman and Ellen Hoekstra Polderman. He was married to Louise Verstrate on November 28, 1943. Harold served in the 368th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Bombardier/Togglier of the B-17 #43-37633 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on December 15, 1944 when his plane, on return from Kassel, Germany, was involved in a mid-air collision with #43-38019 due to bad weather and extremely poor visibility over Greenham Common, UK. It is apparent that neither pilot saw the the other aircraft. TSGT Polderman was temporarily buried at Cambridge Cemetery, England. His body was returned to family in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, in July 1946. He was permanently laid to rest in Grandville Cemetery, Grandville, Kent County, Michigan, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com