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name
ANDERSON, Truman Kenneth - Date of
birth
3 September 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Best, Benton County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18167649 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
715th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 August 1944 - Place of
death
Dalvers, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 3 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John H. Anderson (father)
Effie A. (Rodgers) Anderson (mother)
Vernie Anderson (sister)
Vesta Anderson (sister)
Helen P. Anderson (sister)
Thomas L. Anderson (brother)
Callie E. Anderson (sister)
Martha Anderson (sister)
Jess Anderson (brother)
Millie Anderson (sister)
Johnie Anderson (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95182 -
Data
Type: B 24-H
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR: 8292
More information
T/Sgt Truman K. Anderson attended high school for one year and was a chauffeur.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Little Rock, Arkansas on 23 October 1942. He was awarded his wings as an aerial gunner in Laredo, Texas in October 1943 and was only four months overseas when he was killed.
Statement from S/Sgt Stanley Dubee, one of the surviving crew members:
"We were hit by flak about a minute after bombs away, it hit right under no. 2 engine, killing the engineer in the top turret. We dropped down to 12,000 ft. altitude. Gas lines along the bomb bay were leaking gas. Also the booster pump on the main tank had a hole as big as a 50 cal. bullet. I tried to plug that hole up. Fact is we all tried to stop the leaks. There were four of us in the waist and five in the front. That's when the fire broke out, it started in the bomb bay."
Six crew members were killed, four survived and were taken prisoner. The deceased men were initially buried at the cemetery of Achmer, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - Roller Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Eric Bijtelaar