Bernard Jame McGivern was born on July 6, 1921, in Barberton, Ohio. He was the son of Michael Joseph McGivern and Mary Ann O'Brien McGivern.
Bernard served in the 863rd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on the B-17G #43-39050 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on March 3, 1945, when his airplane was shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed at Hildesheim, Germany. Two members of his crew were killed in the crash, and seven members were taken as prisoners. 1Lt McGivern was killed by civilians shooting as he parachuted to the ground. He is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.
The crew that day was George Graff, Ray Goetschius, Paul Edmunds, Dwain Kantor, Bob Dawson, Cameron McKin, Francis Mungavin (7 Prisoner of War); Bill Thomas, Bernie McGivern, (2 Killed in Action).
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.abmc.gov