Name:
Bernard C., Jr. McKnight
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
17032523
Unit:
366th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1943-07-04
State:
Pennsylvania
Cemetery:
Arlington Cemetery, Virginia
Plot:
2029
Row:
Grave:
34
Decoration:
Purple Heart
Comments:
SSgt Bernard C. McKnight Jr., right waist gunner of the B-17 42-5053 "Bloody Tangier Show", took off from Chevelston, UK on a bombing mission to Château-Bougon’s airfield and bomber parts production plant for Heinkel. "Bloody Tangier Show" was one of the 62 planes assigned to this target. After having successfully dropped their bombs, the plane came under heavy AA fire and suffered a hit to its engine, causing it to lose altitude. Three Focke-Wulf fighters exploited their position and strafed the plane repeatedly. The pilot gave the order to bail out at noon but McKnight was already dead.