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name
CHAMBERLAIN, Roland H - Date of
birth
1920 -
Age
unknown -
Place of birth
Maine -
Hometown
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-887028 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
508th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 August 1944 - Place of
death
Seddiner See, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 12 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert E. A. Chamberlain (father)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102971 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 7586
More information
Roland Chamberlain attended high school for four years and was a farmer.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Portland, Maine on 5 September 1942.
The airplane was hit by flak, northeast of Berlin, knocking our #3 engine and setting the engine on fire. The propeller was feathered and the fire went out but was spraying oil and gas along the fuselage. The airplane left the formation and then dropped its bombs. By this time it had dropped a quarter of a mile even though the pilot gave full power. At that time, the plane went down.
Six crew members managed to bail out and were taken prisoner. Three men were killed.
Lt Chamberlain was initially buried at the cemetery of Seddiner See, Germany.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Jac Engels, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-13, Victorville Army Air Field, California