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name
GAITHER, Raymond Albert - Date of
birth
1921 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Morris, Okmulgee County Oklahoma -
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-672790 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 August 1943 - Place of
death
Haus Oelgarten, near Hennef/Bonn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 13 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James A. Gaither (father)
Nancy Gaither (mother)
Velma L. Gaither (sister)
Alberta Gaither (sister)
William J. Gaither (brother)
Margaretta Gaither (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30104 -
Data
Type B-17F
Destination: Bochum, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil installation
MACR: 286
More information
2nd Lt Raymond A. Gaither volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States on 18 January 1942 in Los Angeles, California.His plane was attacked by enemy aircraft and crashed in Haus Oelgarten, near Hennef, 7 miles east of Bonn.
He was initially buried on 13 August 1943 at the cemetery of Geistingen.
The week before the fatal crash, this crew was hit on a bombing run with two of four engines shot out, fuel leaking from their fuel tank, and jammed tail and side guns. They limped across the channel, unsure if they were going to crash into the English cliffs or make it over the top. They did make it over the cliffs and managed a safe landing. Their plane was scrapped, and they were given a replacement bomber.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://www.384thbombgroup.com/, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-B, Blackland AFS, Waco, Texas