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name
DONOHUE, Richard Charles "Dick" - Date of
birth
23 June 1924 -
Age
19 -
Place of birth
Sparrows Point, Baltimore County, Maryland -
Hometown
Baltimore, Maryland
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33551808 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
369th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Kirchen, eight miles southwest of Siegen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 7 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Richard C. Donohue (father)
Isabelle M. Donohue (mother)
Mary P. Donohue (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31695 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers-Zweigwerke aviation industry
MACR: 2652
More information
S/Sgt Richard C. Donohue enlisted in the Air Corps in Baltimore, Maryland on 21 January 1943.A student at Baltimore's Saint Paul's, Richard Donohue proved to be an outstanding athlete, excelling as a quarterback in the school's Crusaders football team. After his training as an aerial gunner, he was assigned to the William Quaintance crew in the 306th Bomb Group.
Statement from S/Sgt Alexander F. Markowski:
"On our way back to England we were intercepted by enemy fighters about 1½ hours on return. We were hit and disabled. Pilot gave orders to prepare to bail out. Then the ship, after leaving the formation, got out of control and as I was coming down in my chute I noticed part of the wing tip in front of me. I did not see the ship crash but I did notice a large pillar of black smoke in a wood which I presumed was the ship burning."
Nine crew members were killed and were initially buried at the cemetery of Kirchen on 26 February 1944. One crew members survived and was taken prisoner.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - WWII Enlistment Records / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card, http://www.americanairmuseum.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, http://www.americanairmuseum.com