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Personal info

Full name
BRANOM, Buford Ellis "Boots"
Date of birth
20 August 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Richton, Perry County, Mississippi
Hometown
Forrest County, Mississippi

Military service

Service number
O-679328
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
423rd Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 February 1944
Place of death
Near Herfen-Waldbröl, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
D 10 19

Immediate family

Members
Henry B. Branom (father)
Cora I. (Childs) Branom (mother)
Volley B. Branom (brother)
Lillian O. Branom (sister)
Alta C. Branom (sister)
Jewel I. Branom (sister)
Mildred E. Branom (sister)
Rose M. Branom (sister)
William M. Branom (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-39945
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Holy Hellcat
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers-Zweigwerke aviation industry
MACR: 2649

More information

1st Lt Buford E. Branom attended Washington University.

He joined the National Guard at Camp Shelby, Mississippi on 25 November 1940. He was sent overseas in September 1943.

The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters on the return flight. Seven crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the Evangelical Cemetery of Waldbröl on 25 February 1944.

Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com,
www.aviationarchaeology.com, www.armyairforces.com, Hattiesburg American (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) - April 11, 1945, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Michel Beckers, www.8thafhsoregon.com, www.newspapers.com - The St. Louis Star and Times, www.ancestry.com - mc6569