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Personal info

Full name
BRANCH, Hugh Wellington
Date of birth
15 April 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Hometown
St. Johns, Barbados

Military service

Service number
O-398228
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
30 November 1944
Place of death
Oberklobikau, 11 km West of Merseburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 13 16

Immediate family

Members
Randolph Branch (father)
Maude (Newman) Branch (mother)
William R. Branch (twin brother)
Peter Branch (brother)
Helen C. (Dunlop) Branch (wife)
Penelope Branch (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
44-8080
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: The Saint
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna Oil Plant
MACR: 11131

More information

1st Lt Hugh W. Branch graduated from Tilton Academy and attended the University of Maryland. He was employed Tompkins Co at Fort Belvoir.

Lt Branch enlisted in April 1941 and served 22 months in New Guinea. He transferred to the Army Air Force in March 1943. He was sent overseas in September 1944.

The aircraft rammed A/C 42-97407 after it was hit by flak over the target at 1318 hours. The entire crew was killed.

It was 1st Lt Branch's 7th mission.


Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.armyairforces.com, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card, 1920 US Census

Photo source: www.findagrave.com