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Personal info

Full name
DURBOROW, Paul J
Date of birth
22 April 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Religion
Catholic

Military service

Service number
O-710240
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 July 1944
Place of death
The road between both towns
Niedermöllern-Fränkenau, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
P 6 13

Immediate family

Members
Joseph P. Durborow (father)
Edith M. Durborow (mother)
Joseph P. Durborow (brother)
John B. Durborow (brother)
Edith Durborow (sister)
Mary Durborow (sister)
Bernard Durborow (brother)
William Durborow (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31723
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Sparky
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 7810

More information

2nd LT Paul J. Durborow graduated from Harrisburg Catholic High School.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Olmsted Field, Middletown, Pennsylvania on 22 June 1942.

Lt Durborow was trained as a glider pilot in Florida and later was graduated as a navigator.

The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters. Eight crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner.

The killed crew members were initially buried in a common grave at the cemetery of Niedermöllern on 3 August 1944.

He is buried next to his brother John.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - 1930, 1940 Census / Veteran Compensation Application File, www.fold3.com - MACR / Harrisburg Telegraph - 24 April 1944, 27 August 1946

Photo source: Jeannick Tapella and Michel Beckers, Harrisburg Telegraph - 24 September 1943