Augusto Pereira

May 26, 1924 – December 11, 1945 (KIA)

Augusto Pereira was born on May 26, 1924, in Rhode Island, his father, Antonio, was 37 and his mother, Maria, was 29. He had three siblings. He died on December 11, 1943, at the age of 19.

S/Sgt Augusto Pereira attended high school for 2 years and worked in a textile factory. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United Stated in Providence, Rhode Island on 24 October 1942.

Before reaching the target, this B-17 was already hit by a German fighter. The damage caused they were lagging behing the formation, making them easy prey to enemy fighters. Despite this, they managed to reach the target and drop their bombs.

On their way back, they were under constant attack. Over Friesland, at a height of 6 kilometers, the pilot, Robert E. Beatty gave the order to bail out. Milton Spangenberg was sent to the back of the plane to warn crew members. On the way, crossing the narrow catwalk, for some reason he fell out the open bomb bay doors. Therefore the crew in the back of the plane didn't receive the order.

When both pilots had left the plane, it was over Hallum. According to witnesses only one engine was working and the plane was leaving a smoke trail. Flying on autopilot the plane was gliding down towards the sea. Over the sea dyke it turned to the land again. But it came so low it hit the ground. When it hit the ground one of the wings broke off. The rest of the plane ploughed the ground for 200 meters, tearing the plane apart. One of the main wheels flew over the sea dyke near widow Westra’s house. The tail section stopped near a waterway.

Amongst the wreckage and scattered parts were the bodies of 5 crewmembers found. Three of them were killed and two of them were still alive.

S/Sgt Pereira was more or less folded up into his turret during the mission. He reported underway that his feet were almost freezing.

Surviving crew members Albert Laney reported later they were unable to get him out of the turret before the crash. It is possible he already perished before the crash.

The deceased crew members are then laid out in the barn of the farm of Douwe Annema. After release by the Germans the killed crew members were laid out in a coffin and buried by the municipality Ferwerderadiel.

In total five crew members were killed and five survived and were taken prisoner.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56302644/augusto-pereira