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Personal info

Full name
DURRANCE, Edward Earl
Date of birth
18 september 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
Polk County, Florida
Hometown
Bartow, Polk County, Florida

Military service

Service number
O-748603
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
4 January 1944
Place of death
On one of the pastures of a farm called 'Erholung' on the road between Bredstedt and Lutjenholm
Dörpum, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 11 14

Immediate family

Members
Lawrence B. Durrance (father)
Bertie L. Durrance (mother)
James Durrance (brother)
Sylvia L. Durrance (sister)
Joyce V. (Tomasello) Durrance (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52083
Data
Type: B-24
Nickname: Out House Mouse
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1911

More information

Edward Durrance was a bookkeeper.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at MacDill Field, Florida on 25 June 1941.

The bomber crashed in an attempt to make an emergency landing after it was damaged by a German FW-190. When the bomber hit the ground, it turned over and was set on fire.

The entire crew of ten men was killed and initially buried near the edge of the pasture.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-F Rankin, Tulare, California