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Personal info

Full name
FARRELL, Peter James
Date of birth
24 May 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Linton, Emmons County, North Dakota
Hometown
Edmunds, Stutsman County, North Dakota

Military service

Service number
37585338
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
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
L 20 10

Immediate family

Members
James F. Farrell (father)
Velma E. (Lawler) Farrell (mother)
Frank E. Farrell (brother)
Ted P. Farrell (brother)
Gerald M. Farrell (brother)
Betty J. Farrell (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38530
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Sterkrade, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil plant
MACR: 11758

Biography

303rd Bomb Group Heavy

More information

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.abmc.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - various family trees

Photo source: Michel Beckers, 303rdBomberGroup.com