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Personal info

Full name
BUDDEMEYER, Elton William
Date of birth
10 July 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Owensville, Gasconade County, Missouri
Hometown
Cuba, Crawford County, Missouri

Military service

Service number
37394101
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 October 1943
Place of death
Rambluzin-et-Benoite-Vaux, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 31 13

Immediate family

Members
Walter C. Buddemeyer (father)
Gladys (Hunter) Buddemeyer (mother)
Walter A. Buddemeyer (brother)
Mildred H. Buddemeyer (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3216
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: The Joker
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ball bearings factory
MACR: 841

More information

Sgt Elton W Buddemeyer was employed at Johnson-Schintle-Sterns Shoe Co.

The airplane was attacked of enemy fighters. The nose was blown off and the plane blew up.

Seven crew members were killed. Three men evaded capture. They were helped by the local resistance to reach Switzerland, after which they were able to return to the UK.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com, Jim Licklider, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten