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Sources
1. Title:   1940 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1940; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll:T627_1122; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 96-41
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations,Inc., 2012.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627;;
2. Title:   1930 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1930; Census Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana; Roll: 607;Page: 21B; Enumeration District: 19; Image: 408.0.
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com OperationsInc, 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626,;;
3. Title:   U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Author:   National Archives and Records Administration
Publication:   Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com OperationsInc, 2005.Original data - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administrati;;
4. Title:   Web: International, Find A Grave Index
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;
5. Title:   WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com OperationsInc, 2005.Original data - American Battle Monuments Commission. World War I Listing; World War II Listing; Korean War Listing. American Battle Monuments Commission.Original data: American Battle;;

Notes
a. Note:   Name: Harold R Askins Inducted From: Indiana Rank: Staff Sergeant , Aerial Engineer on B24-H "Dueces Wild" Combat Organization: 15th Bomber Wing, 450th Bomber Group, Heavy, 721st Bomber Squadron Death Date: 24 Mar 1944 Last Known Status: Missing U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal Air Medal Additional Army Awards
  FRIDAY, 24 MARCH 1944
  STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force): In Italy, 100+ B-24s bomb Rimini marshalling yard while 32 others attack Ancona, Senigallia and rail and road bridges over the Vomano River S of Giulianova; 200+ other B-17s and B-24s turn back before reaching the target and before rendezvous with the fighter escorts; and 3 B-17s and 1 B-24 hit targets of opportunity in Italy and Yugoslavia; 6 B-24s are lost; the bombers claim 10 enemy fighters destroyed.
  HEADQUARTERS 450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) AAF APO-520 US ARMY S-2 NARRATIVE REPORT MISSION DATE: MARCH 24, 1944
  MISSION NBR. 38
  TARGET: Steyr, Austria - Walzergenswerk Ball Bearing Plant
  I. CHRONOLOGY Forty-two B-24's took off at 0732-0800 hours to bomb Steyr Walzergenswerk Ball Bearing Plant. Five returned early. Of the second attack unit, two were lost by collision over the Adriatic and fifteen returned at 1245 hours. Twenty aircraft in the first attack unit continued until engaged by fighters near Trieste where three were shot down and one disappeared and is listed as missing. Sixteen continued to the alternate target, Rimini, where thirteen dropped 32 tons 1000 lb G.P. bombs at 1225 from 20,000 feet. Two B-24's of this unit jettisoned 5 tons of bombs due to bomb bay malfunction while the other landed at a friendly airdrome having jettisoned bombs in the sea prior to target time after losing an engine. Fifteen returned to home base at 1418 hours.
  II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT The Group did not make rendezvous with other bomber or fighter groups because of weather conditions and lack of visibility. From base, the Group proceeded via Monopoli to where the Second Unit turned back in nearly solid overcast. First Unit continued on past Bas Novi to a Point southeast of Klagenfurt, hence turning back to Trieste. From Trieste, across the Adriatic Sea on a heading for Rimini.
  III. RESULTS Strings of bombs were seen crossing the main marshalling yard on a heading of 235 degrees. These bursts carried on into the car shops according to returning crews. Several columns of smoke were coming from target area when last seen. Photographic coverage was not obtained.
  IV. ENEMY RESISTANCE A. Fighters: For 20 to 30 minutes in the Trieste area, 20 to 30 ME-109's plus 9 FW-190's and 6 to 8 JU-88's attacked aggressively, employing principally the following tactics: groups of 4 to 5 came in from 4-5 o'clock low, making runs over the formation and returning for frontal attacks. Elements of three came in on wing ships from 3 and 9 o'clock, firing rockets and fused 20mm cannon shells. Other attacks in column across the formation by 10 to 12 single engine enemy aircraft were made from 10 to 4 o'clock. Individual enemy aircraft occasionally came in from all angles pressing attacks to 100 yards. The single engine fighters had many yellow or red spinners. The attackers exhibited skill and were doubtless thoroughly seasoned group. An ME-110 appeared to act as fire control ship, flying along about 2,000 yards out and parallel with our formation leader. B. Flak: Over Trieste, slight, inaccurate, heavy type black flak was encountered without known damage. Intense, accurate, heavy flak received at Pirano. Over Rimini, only slight, inaccurate, heavy type was observed. In all, ten out of sixteen of our bombers were holed in varying degrees of damage.
  V. OBSERVATIONS At 1151 hours from 20,000 feet, 5 to 8 merchant vessels were observed in Trieste Harbor. There appeared to be a moderate amount of activity around the port.
  VI. CASUALTIES Three bombers were lost to enemy fighters, A total of 20 chutes seen. One bomber reported missing, reason not known. Two bombers collided over the Adriatic Sea, no chutes seen. Two aircraft received severe flak damage, ten others received minor flak damage. Two aircraft received minor damage from fighters.
  VII. VICTORIES
  Destroyed Probable Damaged 6 ME-109's 1 ME-109 0 4 FW-190's VIII. FLIGHT LEADERS
  Snaith Kaecker Hervey Gottlieb
  NOTE: The following quoted from the War Diary of the 721st Bomb Squadron
  "A catastrophe occurred while the formation was flying over the Adriatic Sea. Lts. Hartman and Whalen collided in mid-air and crashed head-on into the sea. No chutes were seen and it is believed that all on board have perished. Lt. Hartman, incidentally, just received a telegram a few days ago stating that he was the proud father of a 7 pound baby boy. The ships were: 'Deuces Wild', flown by Lt. Hartman; and 'Yankee Fury', flown by Lt. Whalen. Lt. Whalen was a new replacement flying his first combat mission."
b. Note:   H5493
Note:   Memoralized in Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Plot: Tablets of the Missing, Florence, Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy
c. Note:   Name: Harold R Askins Inducted From: Indiana Rank: Staff Sergeant . Aerial Engineer for B24-H "Dueces Wild" Combat Organization: 15th Army Air Force, 47th Bomber Wing, 450th Bomber Group, Heavy 721st Bomber Squadron. Squadron was formed in Apr 1943 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. Squadron was deployed at Manduria, Italy from Dec 1943 until deactivation in Oct 1945. Death Date: 24 Mar 1944 Monument: Tablets of the Missing, Florence American Cemetery, Via Cassia, Italy Last Known Status: Missing U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal Air Medal w/ 4 oak leaf clusters Additional Army Awards All crewmembers of "Deuces Wild" were killed in a mid-air collision. Objective on 24 Mar 1944 was the Walzergenswerk Ball Bearing Plant in Steyr, Austria. Alternate was Rimini, Italy


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