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name
BROWN, Richard Alonzo - Date of
birth
21 April 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Rockland, Knox County, Maine -
Hometown
South Tomaston, Knox County, Maine
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
11097235 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
358th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 January 1945 - Place of
death
Oberhausen-Sterkrade, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 5 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Alfred W. Brown (father)
Vivian L. (Maker) Brown (mother)
Laroy M. Brown (brother)
Marjorie L. Brown (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38530 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Sterkrade, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil plant
MACR: 11758
More information
T/Sgt Richard A. Brown was a chauffeur.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Portland, Maine on 12 September 1942.
The airplane received a direct hit in #2 engine from A/A gunfire. The left wing broke off and the it went down with his left side burning. Several witnesses reported that it then exploded in the air. Two to three parachutes were reported to have seen just about the time the airplane exploded, as if some of crew had been blown out.
Seven crew members were killed, two were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.303rdbg.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Portland Press - 8 June 1943