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Submit- Full
name
REARDON, George M - Date of
birth
29 September 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
New York City, New York -
Hometown
Manhattan, New York County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-733971 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 October 1943 - Place of
death
Between the roads Overbroekseweg and Horsterweg
Leunen, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 43 | 44 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George Kennedy (father)
Mary Kennedy (mother)
William Kennedy (stepfather)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3130 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Nip’n Tuck II
Destination: Düren, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railway complex and aviation industry
MACR: 902
More information
On the return flight, the airplane was attacked by enemy fighters. It was so badly hit it exploded in mid-air. Debris were scattered across a wide area.Eight crew members were kiled and initially buried at the military cemetery of Venlo. Ttwo crew members survived and were taken prisoner.
In 2014 a local research team, the Planehunters Recovery Team, found parts of the airplane in the vicinity of the crash. It was decided to erect a monument at the Hoogriebroekseweg in honor of the crew.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record, http://www.planehunters.be/
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-02, Victorville AAF, California