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Personal info

Full name
GROW, Raymond Lewis
Date of birth
13 August 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
St. Johnsbury, Calediona County, Vermont
Hometown
Derby Line, Orleans County, Vermont

Military service

Service number
11085787
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th 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
Burgstaden, 5 km west of Merseburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
C 18 32

Immediate family

Members
Raymond E. Grow (father)
Merle E. (Varney) Grow (mother)
Gordon H. Grow (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-6004
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Ronny Boy
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 8284

More information

S/Sgt Raymond L. Grow was a machine operator.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Rutland, Vermont on 2 December 1942.
Over the target, the airplane was hit by flak midships, causing the bomb bay and the right wing to start burning. It went into a spin before it crashed. Seven crew members could bail out and were taken prisoner, three were killed. Their bodies were found in or near the wreckage.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - WWII Army Enlistment Records - Trask Family Tree - 1930 Census

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, http://www.airborneinnormandy.com/ronnyboy.htm