BOMBARDIER
Herman J. Dias

Lieutenant Herman J. Dias, O-729959 came from San Francisco, and joined the 63rd Squadron as a replacement.

After the ditching of "Black Jack", Dias was awarded the Air Medal.

Dias and Shaver were transferred to the 380th Bomb Group, 529th Bombardment Squadron where they joined Lt Harold Van Wormer's crew.

In a cruel twist of fate, Dias was killed on January 19, 1944 when their bomber, B-24J "Paper Doll" 42-73187 was shot down by fighters "120 miles south of Ambon", hit the water and exploded. He is listed as Missing In Action, and memorialized at Manila American Cemetery.