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Personal info

Full name
COFFIN, Bruce Phillip
Date of birth
25 October 1924
Age
19
Place of birth
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
Hometown
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island

Military service

Service number
31289065
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
733rd Bombardment Squadron,
453rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 April 1944
Place of death
Elmendorf, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 32 13

Immediate family

Members
Henry Coffin (father)
Anna Coffin (mother)
Wilhelmina Coffin (sister)
Geneva Coffin (sister)
Evelyn Coffin (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52180
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Lil Eight Ball
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the MIAG tanks and aircraft engine plants
MACR: 3921

More information

Bruce Coffin attended high school for three years and was a metal worker.

He enlisted in Providence, Rhode Island on 21 January 1943.

The airplane was attacked by enemy fighters, exploded and disintegrated in mid air.

Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Six men were killed.

T/Sgt Coffin was killed instantly, together with the other crew members in the forward compartment when the airplane received a direct hit of flak.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card, www.fold3.com, http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/Bradley/Bradley-13.html

Photo source: Peter Schouteten