Samuel Schankerman

Aug. 23, 1916 - Dec. 20,1943

According to his Great Nephew, Torin, his family and given name at birth was Shamael. This differs from his military listing as Samuel.

"Mr. Iane Vuchev Ianchev: Ianchev was a Bulgarian living near Sofia and witnessed events from the ground. In a statement translated and later provided to Army officials after the war, Ianchev related that during the fight “white smoke appeared from one of the [bombers], then turning black and I saw it break into three parts.” He then saw “a parachutist … slowly descending toward the village of Pasarell.” Ianchev later went to the crash site. "

B-24J #42-73428 ‘Big Nig' was on a mission from San Pangrazio, Italy to Sofia, Bulgaria, when the ship collided with a Bulgarian Bf 109G-2 flown by Dimitar Spisarevski and crashed at Pancharevo, Bulgaria. There were 9 KIA, and Renner was taken as a POW. According to the Renner family, 'the only reason he survived was due to the fire burning the harness strap that was holding him in the plane and he fell out of the plane and parachuted to the ground, he was unconscious the whole time'. The crew members were~

2nd LT Robert W Brown, ASN O-802714, Pilot, from Lissie TX, KIA
2nd LT Florian E Laramore,Jr, ASN O-448232, CoPilot, from Evanston IL, KIA
2nd LT Jack Larsen, ASN O-685656, Navigator, from Maplewood NJ, KIA
2nd LT Henry C Alexander, ASN O-674715, Bombardier, from Los Angeles CA, KIA
TSGT Cyril F Heath, ASN 12185762, Radio Operator/Left Waist Gunner, from Mew York NY, KIA
TSGT Samuel Schankerman, ASN 15059233, Top Turret Gunner, from South Bend IN, KIA
SSGT Kenneth W Runyan, ASN 35565427, Right Waist Gunner, from Clinton IN, KIA
SGT Alvin Dschaak, ASN 39610191, Nose Turret Gunner, entered service from Beulah ND (his home was in Hamilton MT), KIA
SSGT Eugene A Studer, ASN 37164771, Ball Turret Gunner, from Farmington MN, KIA
SSGT Robert H Renner, Tail Gunner, ASN 37469460, Tail Gunner, from Weeping Water NE, POW

The crew is listed here in the virtual cemetery for B-24J #42-73428 ‘Big Nig'

---Note that Sgt Alvin Dschaak was one of four survivors of a previous crash of B-24E #42-7119 while in training.
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Gravesite Details

Entered the service from Indiana.

12/17/2021 DEC

Samuel Schankerman

Aug. 23, 1916 – Dec. 20, 1943

A letter received from Mr. and Mrs. Abe Schankerman of Huntington, Indiana, this week contained the following newspaper clipping concerning the death of T-Sgt. Samuel Schankerman, who with his parents and brothers and sister, was a resident of Remington when Abe and Sammy were children, and who will be remembered by many here.

Mr. and Mrs. Abe Schankerman,Tipton St., Huntington, received word that Mr. Schankerman’s brother, T-Sgt. Samuel Schankerman, 28, missing in action since December 20th, 1943, has been officially declared dead by the War Department. Word to that effect was received by another brother, Norman of South Bend, with whom the young man made his home.

T-Sgt. Schankerman was a gunner on a Liberator bomber and was on a mission over Bulgaria when he was lost. He was listed as missing and later as killed in action.

He had numerous friends here having been in this city on a number of occasions in connection with the Schankerman Bros. Produce business which has been located here since 1938.

He was born at Remington and was attending Purdue U. in September, 1940, when he joined the Army Air Force. He received training at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill, and was an instructor at Sheppard Field, Texas, before volunteering for overseas service in July, 1942. He was assigned to Italy as crew chief and gunner on a heavy bomber last October.

Surviving are four brothers, Abe of Huntington, Norman of South Bend, Lt. Paul, in the armed forces at Midland, Texas, and William of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Published in the South Bend Tribune  on May 1, 1944.

12/17/2021 DEC

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