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Personal info

Full name
SULLIVAN, Paul Corcoran
Date of birth
4 January 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Hometown
Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
11098543
Rank
Private First Class
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
329th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
13 November 1943
Place of death
Near Husum, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 37 57

Immediate family

Members
Charles R. Sullivan (father)
Nellie I. (Corcoran) Sullivan (mother)
Charles R. Sullivan (brother)
John K. Sullivan (brother)
Helen Sullivan (wife)
Paul C. Sullivan Jr. (son)

Plane data

Serial number
42-40765
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Valient Virgin
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port area
MACR: 2184

More information

Pfc Paul C. Sullivan graduated from Pittsfield High School and attended St. Lawrence University.

He worked for the General Electric Company before he volunteered for U.S. Army in Springfield, Massachusetts on 17 September 1942. He was sent overseas in November 1943.

The airplane collided with another B-24 #41-24226 which smashed its bomb bays and caused the tail section to break off and they both crashed near Husum, Germany.

Three crew members were taken prisoner, seven were killed.

Statement from 2nd Alfred T. Van Dame:
"On this mission to Bremen we were flying spare, as we neared the German coast we were in the low squadron. Suddenly there was a terrific impact, another B-24 had collided with us, and smashed our bomb bays. This I imagine trapped the pilot, co-pilot, engineer and radio operator. The right waist gunner was knocked unconscious by the impact, this was told to me by S/Sgt Gillespie who was waist gunner. The tail section broke off immediately after. The aircraft crashed south of Husum, Germany. How many of my crew members were actually in the aircraft when it hit the ground in unknown to me. The only members of my crew that I know to be alive are Lt E.L. Wodey and S/Sgt Gillespie."

According to the Missing Air Crew Report, Pfc Sullivan was posthumously recommended for the Silver Star Medal for heroism beyond the call of duty. Apparently this recommendation was never approved.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, Berkshire Evening Eagle 3 May 1944, www.findagrave.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Jac Engels, Berkshire Evening Eagle - 3 May 1944