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Personal info

Full name
ECKROSH, Floyd David
Date of birth
1 October 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Crocker, Polk County, Iowa
Hometown
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Military service

Service number
17097350
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Nose Turret Gunner
Unit
717th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 August 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Dalvers, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 11 26

Immediate family

Members
Joseph Eckrosh (father)
Rose (Salem) Eckrosh (mother)
James Eckrosh (brother)
Fred Eckrosh (brother)
Freda Eckrosh (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95182
Data
Type: B 24-H
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR: 8292

More information

S/Sgt Floyd D. Eckrosh attended East High School.

He enlisted on 5 August 1942 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Statement from S/Sgt Stanley Dubee, one of the surviving crew members:
"We were hit by flak about a minute after bombs away. It hit right under #2 engine, killing the engineer in the top turret. We dropped down to 12,000 ft altitude. Gas lines along the bomb bay were leaking gas. Also, the booster pump on the main tank had a hole as big as a 50 caliber bullet. I tried to plug that hole up. The fact is, we all tried to stop the leaks. There were four of us in the waist and five in the front. That's when the fire broke out; it started in the bomb bay."

S/Sgt Floyd D. Eckrosh was last seen on the flight deck when he was in flames.

Six crew members were killed, and four survived and were taken prisoner. The deceased men were initially buried at the cemetery of Achmer, Germany.

Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR 8292, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930 Census, Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.americanairmuseum.com, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-K,Gibbs Field, Texas