At 7:53 in the morning, 39 B-24 "Liberators" took off from Manduria to bomb the Marshalling Yards in Brasov, Romania. Jack Dyer was among them piloting B-24 #41-28929. At 11:03 Dyer and the other B-24's bombed the marshalling yard. The bombing run was a huge success and hit most of its targets. However, they were met with resistance comprised of AA flak guns, ME-109's, and FK-190's. While trying to escape and save his crew Jack Dyer's B-24 was hit. At 11:29 the plane began to go down and 8 of the 10 crewmen parachuted out. That left pilot Jack Dyer and co-pilot Walter M. Bensley heroically flying the plane in hopes of safely landing. Unfortunately, Jack Dyer's plane crashed in the Romanian country side. He along with Lt Walter M. Bensley, 2nd Lt Ronald G. Sorensen, 2nd Lt George A. Ryan, Sgt Levin J. Gearhart, Sgt Samuel C. Bardsley, Sgt John R. Broyles Jr., Sgt Delton M. Phillips, Sgt Tony B. Morrow all died that day. S/Sgt Frederick A. Lauer Jr. managed to survive until he was confirmed KIA August 19, 1944. Jack Dyer, along with every man in that aircraft, heroically did his duty to his country. They fought for the lives and freedom of all in the face of danger. They paid the ultimate sacrifice and will never be forgotten in the hearts of all Americans. Jack Dyer wasn't just a heroic American, but a true son of Indiana, a man that truly symbolizes what it means to be a Hoosier.
* above is a photo of Jack Dyer's crashed plane in Brasov.
** below is a map showing where exactly Dyer and his crew went down in Romania.
** below is a map showing where exactly Dyer and his crew went down in Romania.
*below is a memorial built for those who went down in the Dyer crash in Romania.
*below are actual photos taken during the mission on the Brasov Marshalling Yards on April 16, 1944
Jack's body was never recovered. Today he has a memorial stone at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. The other men whose names are on his headstone were crewmen in his B-24.