Roland G. Baryenbruch
Roland G. Baryenbruch, age 58, of Wisconsin Dells died unexpectedly on Saturday, 10 January 1981 at Kissimmee Florida Hospital after an apparent heart attack. Roland was the former owner of the River Inn Restaurant, Christmas Ski Area and Top Hat Motel and Liquor Store - all in Wisconsin Dells.
He was a member of the American X-Prisoners of War, Inc.; The American Legion Harold B. Larkin Post No. 187 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9387 of Wisconsin Dells.
Roland was a Staff Sergeant in the 778th Squadron of the 464th Bombardment Group. On 25 May 1944, Roland flew with Capt. Hornbaker's crew in the 464th's B-24, "Strickly From Hunger" (41-29412), on a mission to Givors (France). The target was a railway junction located 13 miles south of Lyon in the Rhones valley. After hitting the target the formation headed home.
The formation was nearly over the coastline near Cap Roux and headed for Corsica. This part of the coastline was bristling with enemy flak guns and the ME-109s were joined by FW-190s. "Strickly From Hunger" suffered hits from flak and the fighters, the number 1 engine caught fire and they began to lose altitude. Capt. Hornbaker was killed and Lt. Burkland tried to control the stricken Liberator. They turned the B-24 180 degrees, back towards the coast.
"Strickly From Hunger" crashed near the top of the hill of Croix des Gardes on the outskirts of Cannes. Roland, Al Karow and Raymond Burklund were the only survivors of the crew of 10.
50 years later, on 4 July 1994, the last survivor of this B-24, Sergeant Alfred R. Karow, mechanic and turret gunner, was invited by the Cannes's municipality and Aéro-Re.L.I.C., to come back to the site of his first and only parachuting jump - Cannes - for a memorial ceremony. Also present at the ceremony, were the pilot's widow, Mrs Velma Hornbaker (now Kirby), the sister and niece of the tail machine gunner and veterans of Captain Hornbaker's Squadron (778th).
Roland is survived by his wife Pauline (Holman); two daughters, Mrs. Jane Youngs, of Kissimmee, Fla. and Patricia of Knoxville, Tenn.; his mother, Mrs. Valeria Baryenbruch; four brothers, Jack, Arthur, Jerry and Mick, all of Spring Green, Wis.; four sisters, Ramona Stephens, of Dodgeville, Wis., Rita Scallon, of Madison, Wis., Ruth Stoddard and Rose Porter, both of Spring Green; and several nieces and nephews.
Complete funeral services were held at St. John's Catholic Church in Spring Green on Tues., January 13. Father Thomas Doyle officiated. Arrangements were under the direction of Richardson Funeral Home at 429 North Cincinnall Street in Spring Green.