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Personal info

Full name
FAIRLEY, David Rodgers
Date of birth
14 October 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Finkbine, Rankin County, Mississippi
Hometown
Irving, Dallas County, Texas

Military service

Service number
18217536
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator/Nose Gunner
Unit
512th Bombardment Squadron,
376th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
23 February 1944
Place of death
Sankt Valentin, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 23 20

Immediate family

Members
Walter E. Fairley (father)
Winnie Fairley (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-100255
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Steyr, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the industrial complex
MACR: 2584

More information

David Fairley worked for the North American Aviation Co.

The airplane was attacked by enemy fighters. Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Five men were killed.

A direct hit on the nose of the plane destroyed the entire nose. Bombardier Lt Newbitt opened the door to the nose turret before he bailed out and saw S/Sgt Fairley shattered to pieces.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.findagrave.com