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Submit- Full
name
WRIGHT, Raymond Edward - Date of
birth
5 April 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio -
Hometown
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35474099 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
66th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
26 November 1943 - Place of
death
Between Brual and Rhede, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 15 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Wilmer S. Wright (father)
Bertha L. (Biggs) Wright (mother)
Edna Wright (sister)
Lena Wright (sister)
Wilmer C. Wright (brother)
William H. Wright (brother)
Ruth M. Wright (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24234 -
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Mr 5x5
Destination: Bremen Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1501
More information
Raymond Wright worked for the Formica Insulation Company.He enlisted in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 19 September 1942 and was sent overseas in October 1943.
This B-24 and another one were flying in a tight formation when both hit prop wash from airplanes ahead. The other plane nosed up and the #4 engine and propeller chewed into the tail of MR 5x5, tearing off the right stabilizer, fin, and rudder. Immediately it did half a wing over and started to go down in a slow spiral. As it lost altitude, it was seen to level off for a moment, and then the remainer of the tail assembly disintegrated. It went down and was seen to crash.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Army Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.newspapers.com - The Cincinnati Enquirer, 1910 US Census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten