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name
SLIFF, Donald Ross "Donnie" - Date of
birth
21 January 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Hemet, Riverside County, California -
Hometown
Riverside County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
6555937 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
732nd Bombardment Squadron,
453rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 May 1944 - Place of
death
Hoya, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 15 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Luke W. Sliff (father)
Florence M. Sliff (mother)
Lawrence J. Sliff (brother)
Helen L. Sliff (sister)
Ruth M. (Longwell) Sliff (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-52147 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 4593
More information
S/Sgt Donald R. Sliff was employed at Hemet News.According to crew members of other airplanes, the plane exploded in mid-air.
According to S/Sgt Soltau, who survived the crash, S/Sgt Sliff was knocked unconscious by ammo-cans from the upper turret and he was caught in the explosion.
The killed crew members were initially buried at the Jewish Cemetery of Hoya on 10 May 1944.
Together with his brother, T/Sgt Lawrence Sliff, who is listed on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten, he is remembered at the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery in San Jacinto, Riverside County, California.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.findagrave.com - Family2Gather, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Family2Gather, patootie - Ranndolph Field San Antonio 1938 yearbook, Peter Schouteten