Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MOSS, Shirley Leroy - Date of
birth
9 September 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Clinton, Sheridan County, Nebraska -
Hometown
Torrington, Goshen County, Wyoming
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37460059 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
359th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
21 November 1944 - Place of
death
Near Frankfurt, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 9 | 41 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Jonathan Moss (father)
Ida M. (Mannhalter) Moss (mother)
Stanley B. Moss (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-102484 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Heller's Angels
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 11201
More information
The airplane was hit by flak, causing the no. 4 engine to catch on fire. With the fire out, the aircraft was last seen flying on three engines, seemingly under control. The formation was flying in a thick belt of haze and contrails, making visibility extremely limited. There were no parachutes observed.Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner, three men were killed.
Surviving crew members stated after the war that they believed S/Sgt Moss was killed by angry civilians right after he landed with his parachute. One crew member claimed he saw that he was machine gunned when he was descending.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Riley Family Tree
Photo source: Wendy Lensink, 303rd Bomb Group