728 WWII pilot daughter to memorial in his honor

On January 20th, 1945, a B-17 bomber assigned to the 728th Bombardment Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. This B-17, nicknamed "The Lucky Lady", was knocked out by German flak over Holland, while participating in the European Theatre of Operations during World War II. These B-17s were crucial to the allied victory and liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany.

Eight crew members of the Lucky Lady out of the nine were killed in action over the village of Midwoud in Holland. One of these crew members, Flight Officer Claude "Bud" Bogert, was among the eight who were killed and initially laid to rest in Holland. At the time of Claude's death, his wife was pregnant with his daughter. Claude's daughter was born and named Claudia, after Claude, and she grew up learning about how her father gave his life for the freedom of millions of Europeans during one of the darkest chapters of human history.

The crew of The Lucky Lady has been memorialized in Holland and we would like to take Claudia to Holland on Memorial Day so that she can for the first time in her life visit the site where her father was killed in action and visit the memorial erected to her father, Claude, and his fellow crew. The funds raised would cover Claudia's airfare and hotel stays during her time in The Netherlands and provide her the opportunity to gain closure and witness the admiration that the Dutch have for her father's sacrifice. This would also provide her the opportunity to meet the community of Midwoud and participate in the Memorial Day celebration at the American Military Cemetery in Margraten.