[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 105 (Friday, June 22, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E900-E901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING WORLD WAR II HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 22, 2018

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor deceased 
Trumbull County, Ohio resident 1st Lt. Olof M. Ballinger, pilot of the 
42-299-28 B-17 Flying Fortress that was shot down over Normandy, France 
during WWII 75 years ago on July 4, 1943. 2nd Lt. George C. Williams, 
Bombardier of Warren, Ohio, was also aboard the aircraft.
  Pilot Olof Maximilian Ballinger of Newton Falls, Trumbull County, 
Ohio evaded capture and walked alone, with no compass, over the 
Pyrenees Mountains during the winter. He reached safety in Spain in 
November 1943 and returned to the U.S. He eventually moved to 
California.
  George C. Williams, bombardier from Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, 
was killed in action. While assisting the nose gunner, his chute 
accidentally opened inside the aircraft. Pilot Olof Ballinger offered 
up his own parachute, but George Williams refused. It is thought that 
George Williams attempted to fly the plane after all the crew had 
evacuated.
  Also aboard the aircraft was Harry W. Basucher Jr. of Cincinnati, 
Ohio and Albert Wackerman of Salinas, California who were killed in 
action by enemy cannon fire. Bryon J. Gronstall, of Van Nuys, 
California and John K. Lane, a radio operator from Deland, Florida, 
were captured by German patrol and were Prisoners of War at Stalag 7A. 
William C. Howell, of Goldsboro, North Carolina and Paul

[[Page E901]]

McConnell, the navigator from Montgomery, Alabama both evaded capture. 
Francis E. Owens, of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, also evaded capture, but 
he died of exposure in the Pyrenees Mountains while trying to assist 
other crewmen through the dangerous passage. He was awarded the 
Soldiers Medal for dragging wounded men out of harm's way. Co-pilot, 
John Marshall Carrah, from Chico, California, evaded capture and 
escaped to Switzerland, to Spain, and then returned to the U.S. in 
March 1944. He continued to assist in the war effort. He was a career 
United States Air Force Officer, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.
  A documentary was created about these seven brave American aviators 
and will be featured at an event in Warren, Ohio on July 2, 2018. The 
son of co-pilot John M. Carrah will also be at the event to share his 
firsthand knowledge about his father's experience.
  I am inspired by the stories of these brave Americans, and I'm so 
proud of the individuals who are keeping this history alive for younger 
generations.

                          ____________________