Brewster

2LT Ernest Israel Brewster

446th BS/321st BG(M)
O-731014

Acknowledgement: Information courtesy of American Battlefield Monument Commission

Entered the Service from: McLennan County, Texas
Died: March 24, 1943
Tablets of the Missing at North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia

Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

From the 446th BS War Diary: 12 Feb 1943
En route to Theatre of Operations. Left DeRidder destined for Morrison Field, FL. Plane was 41-13212 and crew list.

Rank	Name	Position
1LT	Donald A. Stine	Pilot
2LT	James L. Cox	CP
2LT	Ernest I. Brewster	BOM/Nav
S/SGT	Thomas J. Lewis	TT
SGT	John J. Trepple	WG-RO
S/SGT	Howard H. Midkiff	TG
M/SGT	Robert H. Dugan	Passenger

Rank	Name	Home State	Position	Fate	Serial #
1LT	Donald A. Stine		Pilot	POW	O-662987
2LT	James L. Cox		CP	KIA	O-792288
2LT	Ernest I. Brewster	TX	BOM	KIA	O-731014
S/SGT	Thomas J. Lewis		TT	KIA	34204117
SGT	John J. Trepple		WG-RO	POW	19080307
S/SGT	Howard H. Midkiff		TG	KIA	13034295

According to the MACR the plane 41-13212 a B-25C, took a direct flak hit to the mid section of the plane causing it explode and break in half. Stine and Trepple were blown clear and parachuted to safety. Trepple was temporarily blinded. According to Stine, Cox was either dead or unconscious from wounds at the time of the explosion. Brewster was in the bombardier compartment but his parachute was in the navigator area. According to Stine he would not have been able to crawl back due to the spinning of the plane.

Stine and Trepple met later in 1945 at the Mooseburg POW camp.

The target was located at Dj. Tebaga, Tunisia.