Raymond Pascual

Fallen Hero’s Hometown and State: Brooklyn, NY

Branch of Service: United States Army

Rank: 1st Lt.

1st Lt. Raymond Pascual was a bombardier assigned to 856th Squadron, 492nd Bomb Group in WWII as part of the 1LT McMurray flight crew. He died along with his crew when his B-24J Liberator was swarmed by German fighter planes and crashed near Westeregeln. They were flying out of North Pickenham, England on a mission to bomb an enemy aircraft factory near Bernburg, Germany.

Pascual and the crew were declared dead but not recovered. The wreckage was recovered, and the crew were identified 65 years later, near the original battle zone. The aircraft and crew were found when a German farmer found dog tags plowing his field and called the US Embassy.

He had left behind his wife, pregnant with their first child. His son later served in Vietnam. 1st Lt. Pascual and his crew were given full honors, Active Duty KIA funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Time has not erased the need to honor men like this.

Age: 28

Date of Death: July 07, 1944