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Flores Mike

Name:
Mike Flores
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
39571005
Unit:
1st Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group
Date of Death:
0000-00-00
State:
California
Cemetery:
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Comments:

On January 22, 1945, the crew of the “Where’s It At?” B-26 Marauder were conducting a Pathfinder marking mission in France. During the mission, the bomber’s left engine was damaged by FLAK while over the target. “Where’s It At?” approached the A-72 air base with the left engine running only part of the time. After several attempts of landing during the heavy snow storm covering the base that day, the bomber was diverted by A-72 Drunkard Control toward the Cambrai A-74 Air Base. As it flew over Tincourt-Boucly, both engines stopped. The bomber crashed into the Bois de Buire, 1,200 meters west of this memorial. Two men were killed during the crash when they were crushed by electronic equipment falling on them. The Pilot and Co-Pilot were both awarded the Soldiers Medal for their efforts in removing the two men's bodies from the burning bomber. SGT Mike Flores was the tail gunner for the "Where's It At?" He survived the crash on January 22, 1945.