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Personal info

Full name
BROPHY, James E
Date of birth
10 April 1921
Age
22
Place of birth
Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts
Hometown
Essex County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
11068935
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
26 July 1943
Place of death
North Sea, off the East Frisian Islands, 35 miles of the nearest land, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
William S. Brophy (father)
Alice L. (Nies) Brophy (mother)
Jean Brophy (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30281
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Hannover, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 191

More information

S/Sgt James E. Brophy graduated from Marblehead High School where he was a football star. He attended college and was an actor.

He volunteered for the Air Corps in Boston, Massachusetts on 17 April 1942.

The plane blew up before hitting the water. It had been on fire and seemed to be trying to ditch. No parachutes were reported from this plane.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Boston Globe - 27 July 1943, Dave Stonebraker - Hebron Academy