Everitt Frederick Goethe was born in New York in 1918, and lived in Peekskill, Westchester County, New York. He completed three years of college, and worked in a skilled occupation in the building of aircraft. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York, on August 20, 1942. After training, he was assigned as a heavy bomber pilot in the 837th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group at Lavenham, England – part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force. On May 20, 1944, the 487th Bomb Group took off from Lavenham Airfield to bomb a target at Liege, Belgium. Visibility was poor due to fog. Lt Goethe's crew took off in B-24H 42-52743. The aircraft lost its number two engine soon after takeoff, and Goethe was unable to climb or maintain altitude. The aircraft crashed and burned near Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk, England. Lt Goethe and five members of his crew were killed in the crash. Four men survived. Lt Goethe's remains were returned to the United States after the war and reinterred at Hillside Cemetery in New York.
B-24H 42-52743 crew:
• Goethe, Everitt F – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Carmen, Earnest T – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Moentenich, Louis P – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Hartley, James W – 2/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Dustman, Darell M – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Allen, Stanley M – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – Safe
• Shackleford, James L – Sgt – Nose Turret Gunner – KIA
• Puglia, Joseph J – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Vukomanovich, Ned – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Jeffries, William – Sgt – Tail Gunner – Safe
Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com