Photo By Tech. Sgt. Leah Ferrante | Pieces of aircraft wreckage dries before being sorted as part of the Defense POW/MIA...... read more read more
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The word Hero can have several meanings, and some heroes even transcend time. When it comes to the story of U.S. Army Air Forces’ 1st Lt John Dudley Crouchley, Jr., no other words describe the actions he took for his country and crew better than the words “American Hero.”
1st Lt John Dudley Crouchley, Jr. was born on September 4, 1917 in Rhode Island. At the age of 25, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and headed off to training March 17, 1942. After completing flight school, he was awarded his pilot wings, and assigned to the 828th Bombardment Squadron, 485th Bombardment Group, Foggia, Italy. At the tail end of World War II, Crouchley and the 828th entered combat in May 1944.
Soon after entering combat, June 28, 1944, Crouchley boarded his aircraft, a B-24 Liberator, named the “Miss Yankee Rebel” with a crew of nine in preparation for a bombing mission over Romania. On their way back from the mission, just outside the target area, the Miss Yankee Rebel was met by hostile anti-aircraft fire, receiving heavy damage to engines two and three, sending the crew into a rapid descent.
During the time of extreme mayhem, Crouchley was able to remain vigilant and maintain a stable descent as he ordered all nine of his crew to bail out of the aircraft. As all of the crew members made it safely to the ground, Crouchley paid the ultimate sacrifice to his brothers in arms and country when the Miss Yankee Rebel crashed into a Bulgarian mountainside.
For his heroic actions that day, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart Medal, and Air Medal.
Unfortunately, due to extreme hostile forces in the area at the time, recovery efforts could not be conducted to return Crouchley’s remains back to American soil. However, that does not mean his heroic actions have been forgotten.
Every American hero, whether a Missing In Action (MIA), Prisoner of War (POW), or Killed In Action (KIA), deserves to be returned home, no matter the time or circumstances. For personnel of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), who are composed of mainly service members, this is a mission they hold near and dear to their hearts.
Recently a team of 19 members with DPAA headed out on a 69-day mission to the Rhodopi mountains in hopes of returning Crouchley to his family where he can be laid to rest after 73 years MIA.
The team consisted of many skillsets, such as Scientific Recovery Expert (SRE), Life Support Investigator (LSI), Forensic Photographer, Team Physician, Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Technician, Radio Telecommunications Operator (RTO), and Recovery Non-Commissioned Officers. Each skillset a vital part of successful recovery operations.
During the course of the mission the team excavated over 1000 square meters of the tree covered mountain side, covering as much of the area as possible. Evidence and aircraft wreckage paved a path for the team to follow, confirming the site was in fact the crash site of the Miss Yankee Rebel. Digging and screening operations continued, as word spread to the surrounding village regarding DPAA’s mission. Soon the team wasn’t alone in searching for America’s missing officer.
Local villagers and witnesses were eager to aid the efforts and provide testimony. They traveled to the site to point out the location of the plane, possible burial locations, and explain what they saw that day in 1944. Although some witnesses were over 90 years old, they continued to come back and help anyway possible, even screening soil alongside the team.
“I remember seeing the plane smoking from the engines, I watched it crash, after I found the plane I came back every day, and now I am back to help you,” said Lazar Karakashev, a 92-year-old villager who witnessed the entire incident including the burial.
After an emotional first day with the team, Karakashev continued to help at the site the duration of the mission, screening soil and carrying buckets, his age never an issue. Not only did the team ensure mission success and maximum effort, the bonds between the Americans and Bulgarians grew stronger, as both countries worked together to find America’s fallen hero.
“Together we will find him, and together we will return him home to his family,” said Karakashev. “You all are my family now, and I’m yours.”
Although the days were long, and the workload strenuous; from excavating rocks to tree roots, weather conditions and injuries, nothing compares to the sacrifice Crouchley made that day. That sacrifice kept the team focused and determined the entire 69 days.
“1st Lt. Crouchley paid the ultimate price. His actions embody the mindset each of us ought to carry every day,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Emerson, RTO. “Through his selfless act of heroism, his story and legacy lives on in all of us. Nothing could be more honorable than to bring closure to his family by finding his remains.”
For everything he did for his crew and country that day over 73 years ago, DPAA will continue to search until full possible accounting is made to Crouchley, his family and the nation.
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2017 13:55 |
| Story ID: | 247839 |
| Location: | BG |
| Web Views: | 367 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
This work, The Miss Yankee Rebel, by TSgt Leah Ferrante, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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