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Submit- Full
name
BROWN, Gerard Francis - Date of
birth
25 April 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Queens County, New York -
Hometown
Queens, Queens County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32787731 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
839th Bombardment Squadron,
487th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
25 August 1944 - Place of
death
Müritz Lake, Rechlin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 33 | 51 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank W. Brown (father)
Elizabeth Brown (mother)
Edward J. Backofen (foster father)
Elizabeth (Vanden Wyngaard) Backofen (foster mother)
Joseph E. Backofen (foster brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37980 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Rechlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the test center airfield
MACR: 8470
More information
The aircraft was hit by flak just after bombs away over the target. The right outer wing was lost, and the burning aircraft went into a spin, exploded and crashed in Müritz Lake, north of the target.Two crew members, 1/Lt Joseph Anderson Duncan and S/Sgt Monroe Stanley Wolyn, survived. Lt Hood's body was never found. The other nine crew members were killed.
The body of T/Sgt Gerard Brown was recovered on the shore of Müritz Lake on 20 September 20 1944. His remains and those of seven of his crew mates were buried initially at the Cemetery in Retzow, Germany, a short distance north of Rechlin Airfield.
His remains were disinterred from Retzow Cemetery on 17 July 1947, moved to the U.S. Military Cemetery, Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, and reinterred in a temporary grave on 9 September 1947.
After being disinterred and after the cemetery was given a permanent status, he was given his final resting place on 11 April 1950.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.findagrave.com - Paul Webber, IDPF
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.487thbg.org - Michael Galligan, www.findagrave.com - Paul Webber