From
Bud Slavin: July 2002
Michael, I have a photo taken at Arlington
and I am trying to find out the story behind it. I cannot scan it as I
do not have one. The stone says:
GRANT L. BUTCHER
MSGT
US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
AUG 18 1921
DEC 26 1981
AIR CORPS
SOLE SURVIVOR
JAN 1944
POW SEP 4 1945
Do you have any information on the story behind
this?
Sincerely, Bud Slavin
Lieutenant and later Captain Robert Brittenbach was the
pilot of a B24 liberator during World War II. He was attached to the Tenth
Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 436th Bombardment Squadron in Bishnapur,
India. I have two crew pictures that were sent to me in 1988 by M.R.London
(Asst radio operator and gunner). I have found almost all of the crew listed
here except for my dad. Here is a list of names from his crew in 1942 Bishnapur,
India. He was promoted to Captain in 1943. He recieved the air medal and
the DFC for his efforts in the WWII.
Pilot - Lieutenant Robert Brittenbach Died
1948 Heart Attack
Copilot - Lieutenant Charles McLoughlin KIA
on another bomber
Navagator - Lieutenant Cecil Painter
Bombadier - Lieutenant Joseph McCord
Engineer/Gunner - Staff Sergeant Grant Butcher
MIA POW
Assistant Engineer/Gunner - Staff Sergeant
Eric Edmondson
Radio/Gunner - Staff Sergeant Roman Shaeffer
Assistant Radio/Gunner - Staff Sergeant M.R.
London
Tail Gunner - Staff Sergeant Henry Caldwell
Research continues regarding this crew and Sergeant Butcher.
Photo Courtesy of Russell C.
Jacobs, August 2006
BUTCHER, GRANT L
MSGT US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/18/1921
DATE OF DEATH: 12/26/1981
BURIED AT: SECTION 34 SITE 5011
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Posted:
5 September 2002 Updated: 22 February 2003 Updated: 4 April 2004
Updated: 16 September 2005 Updated: 19 August 2006
