Herant served as a Sergeant & Tail Gunner on B-24G #42-78319, 744th Bomber Squadron, 456th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Bennington County, Vermont prior to the war.
He was noted, when he enlisted, as being employed as a Photgrapher and also as Single, with dependents.
B-24G #42-78319 took off from Stornara, Italy on a bombing missing to bomb the oil depot in Vienna, Austria. Shortly after bombs away they were hit by German flak near the bomb bay doors causing engine damage and fuel leaks. The crew were given the order to bailout over the island of Vis. The B-24 then crashed into the sea.
Herant was "Killed In Action" in this crash during the war. He was found floating in the water with his parachute still on. He was first interred on Vis Island and later transferred to here.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
by PeneItaliano
3 Comments
God bless them all. So many heroes who gave everything so that many people the world over could live free of fear.
RIP
Full account from the navigator:
>On 7 October 19, I was flying as navigator on plane #319, position able 4. Approximately fifteen (15) seconds after bombs away flak hit under the bomb bays damaging the #2 engine, which was feathered immediately, and punctured the #1, 2 and possibly #3 fuel cells. Gasoline was leaking into the bomb bays and off the left wing. Right after leaving the coast of yugoslavia the #1 engine ran out of gas. At approximately 43/30n – 15/30e we turned back and headed for the island of vis. We called Vis tower and asked if we could land. The would not let US land as there was a plane stuck in the mud on the runway. They gave US the choice of bailing out over the island or going back to the coast of Italy and landing there. We elected to try and make the Italian coast. When we were approximately five (5) minutes from the island of vis, at approximately 43n-16e #3 engine ran out of gasoline. We then headed back to the island of Vis, running all three engines off fuel cell #4. When over the island of vis we bailed out at 4,000 feet. The coordinates when we bailed out were 13/02n-16/12e at approximately 1615 hours.
>While on the island of Vis, British commando’s that watched US bail out, through field glasses, claimed that they saw between eight (8) and ten (10) parachutes. They could not determine the correct amount seen. The authorities on the island of vis told US that sergeant herant j. Dicranian, 31339891, had been picked up out of the bay of vis, his mae west had not been infliteo and his parachute was still on. He was buried on the island of Vis. I saw his equipment at the American mission.
Two more crew members also were killed.
CPL Louis Jennings Garr, age 20 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56363684/louis-jennings-garr
CPL Morris Colby Peck, age 20 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56365910/morris-colby-peck