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Personal info

Full name
BLOOD, Lloyd John
Date of birth
6 November 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
East Pembroke, Genesee County, New York
Hometown
Scotia, Schenectady County, New York

Military service

Service number
32856964
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
749th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
10 April 1945
Place of death
Milmersdorf, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Harold F. Blood (father)
Marjorie M. (King) Blood (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-8368
Data
Type: B17G
Destination: Oranienburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Army HQ and the airfield
MACR: 13882

More information

T/Sgt Lloyd J. Blood was employed at the General Electric Company before he enlisted in Albany, New York on 16 April 1943.

The plane was flying group lead. It was attacked by ME-262s shortly after dropping its bombs. The left wing sustained several hits and engines #1 and #2 were knocked out. Flames were seen coming from the wing. The plane left the formation and flew level for a few minutes, and then went into a spin and exploded.

The crew all bailed out before the explosion and were taken prisoner, except for Sgt Blood.
He was unconscious when he was thrown out of the plane by S/Sgt Prukop and didn't regain consciousness to open his parachute or his parachute failed to open.

Germans told 2nd Lt Zelikofsky that Sgt Blood was dead and showed his dog tags.

According to S/Sgt Prukop, Sgt Blood landed in a lake and the only witnesses were German soldiers.

In February 1950 a field investigation team was send out to search for his remains but since the area was in the Russian zone and due to the political situation, the team wasn't able to conduct the necessary investigation. Further investigation in July 1953, when the area could be searched, were also negative.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - 1930 census, IDPF

Photo source: Jac Engels, www.fold3.com, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org)