Ference Henry P.

Name:

Henry P. Ference

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-1998537

Unit:

603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1944-11-21

State:

Pennsylvania

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA

Plot:

Section 34

Row:

Grave:

Site 4039

Decoration:

Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart

Comments:

Henry P. Ference was born on August 25, 1921, in Point Pleasant, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Peter Ference and Vinca Ference. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of B-17 #43-38671 nicknamed ''Lehner’s Raiders'' during World War II.

On November 21, 1944, Lehner’s Raiders participated in a bombing mission targeting the synthetic oil plant in Merseburg, Germany. After completing the bombing run, the formation was attacked by German fighter aircraft. Lehner’s Raiders sustained critical damage during this engagement and crashed near Zimmernsupra, close to Erfurt, Germany. Tragically, four crew members were killed in action; the remaining five crew members survived and were captured by German forces, becoming prisoners of war.

2Lt Ference was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA. Henry P. Ference's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 3 (right), on Butterfly 22, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org