Missing information?
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Submit- Full
name
RANKIN, Warren M - Date of
birth
24 February 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33172792 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
749th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
8 November 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Donald Rankin (father)
Rita W. Rankin (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-38064 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Harf and Harf
Destination: Merseberg, Germany
MACR: 10344
More information
A/C 42-38064 piloted by Lt Arnet L. Furr, was returning on a “Recall” from a mission to Merseberg when it collided with another plane in the same formation and was cut in two by the rotating props of the other plane. The two pieces spun and fell away into the haze and clouds and crashed into the Channel. The other plane that collided with them, A/C 44-8418, though damaged, left the formation and dropped down to look for survivors. They spotted a man in a Mae West and made several futile attempts at dropping a dinghy to him. They had to leave him and safely returned to Glatton. When Air-Sea Rescue arrived they found the dinghy but no one was in it. All the crew members of 42-38064 were killed.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, 457thbombgroupassoc.org