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name
BLOSSMAN, Allan Milton - Date of
birth
13 August 1921 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana -
Hometown
Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-734304 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
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
Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank C. Blossman (father)
Ella T. (Barnett) Blossman (mother)
Harold Blossman (brother)
Pearl Blossman (sister)
Frank C. Blossman (brother)
Irene Blossman (sister)
Robert Blossman (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30046 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Merrie Hell
Destination: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 289
More information
2nd Lt Allan M. Blossman attended Alcee Fortier High School in New Orleans, Louisiana.The nose of the plane was blown off almost to the back of the turret by flak at an altitude of 29,000 feet. The plane went down in flames.
Only the radio operator, Harry Ketterman, and the Tail Gunner, Louis Brindley, survived and were taken prisoner.
The deceased crew members were buried at the Gelsenkirchen/Bismarck village cemetery on 15 August 1943.
His brother, 1st Lt Harold C. Blossman, was killed on 21 February 1945. He was initially buried at the American War Cemetery Neuville-en-Condroz in Belgium, but he and his crew were reburied at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Kentucky.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers/"384thBombGroup.com"