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Submit- Full
name
BEESLEY, Delmar James - Date of
birth
26 February 1920 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Franklin County, Indiana -
Hometown
Harrison, Hamilton County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35581546 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
546th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 March 1945 - Place of
death
Duisburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 43 | 32 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Glenn Beesley (father)
Carrie Beesley (mother)
Floyd Beesey (brother)
Orville Beesley (brother)
Hazel Beesley (sister)
Wernajeanne Beesley (sister)
Glenna Beesley (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-39053 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Heavenly Body
Destination: Gladbeck, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 13611
More information
S/Sgt Delmar J. Beesley worked on a farm.He enlisted in Indianapolis, Indiana on 15 January 1943.
At approximately 13:50 hours, the aircraft was hit by flak a minute before "bombs away" over the target. The aircraft received three direct hits, one in each wing and one in the waist section. Bombs were dropped on the target. About three minutes after the aircraft was hit, it exploded in midair. 4 crew members were killed. They were initially buried at Kirchhellen. Six men were made prisoners of war.
One of the pictures@ was taken on 8 August 1944 at Grafton Underwood, England, after returning from a bombing mission.
His brother, S/Sgt Floyd L. Beesley, was killed in action over North Africa in 1943. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of Missing at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Italy.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.384thbombgroup.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Mireille Goedhart, Keith Ellefson - Researcher 384thbombgroup.com, Service Records of Franklin County, Indiana