Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
TEAGUE, Sammie Erie Jr
Date of birth
3 December 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Mount Vernon, Franklin County, Texas
Hometown
San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas

Military service

Service number
T-133477
Rank
Flight Officer
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
494th Bombardment Squadron,
344th Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Air Medal

Death

Status
Died non-Battle
Date of death
13 May 1945
Place of death
Huizingen, 7 miles south of Brussels, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 4 44

Immediate family

Members
Mary B. Teague (mother)
Mary L. Teague (sister)
Lilian R. (Works) Teague (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-96048
Data
Type: B-26B

More information

F/O Sammie Teague enlisted on 20 May 1943 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

On 13 May 1945 a formation of two B-26s flew on a low-level formation navigation flight. The pilot of the lead airplane, 1st Lt Doming Jr., stated that he had advised 2nd Lt Whitehead, pilot of the ill-fated plane, not to attempt to fly formation due to the turbulence that day. Lt Whitehead dropped back and to the right but kept his sight of the lead plane. As they flew along, the waist gunner of Lt Doming's aircraft stated to him over the interphone that he could see Lt Whitehead buzzing villages and surrounding terrain. During the process of buzzing, Lt Whitehead's right wing of the aircraft struck a tree, causing the airplane to swing to the right. His altitude at this time was so low, he was unable to right the plane and the right wing struck the ground at a great speed, causing the crash. Parts of the plane were strewn over a great forward distance, carrying all the crew members to their death.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Family Trees

Photo source: Jac Engels, www.newspapers.com - The Corpus Christi Caller-Times - 17 June 1945