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name
CRAIG, Percy Davis "Billy" - Date of
birth
6 April 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Scott County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15335874 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
427th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 december 1943 - Place of
death
Near Bremen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 2 | 27 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry Craig (father)
Mary Craig (mother)
John C. Craig (brother)
Thelma J. Craig (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31233 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1707
More information
T/Sgt Parcy D. Craig was an engineer.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.
A Me-110 came within 50 feet of the airplane and fired two rockets which entered the aircraft between the ball turret and the tail. The ball turret gunner, S/Sgt E.W. Drees, managed to hit the Me-110 in the left wing, breaking it off and sending it down. Bursts from another enemy aircraft entered the ball turret causing two bright flashes. The no 2 and no 3 engines were smoking heavily. S/Sgt Drees still fired after the burst, but no flame was seen. The pilot, Lt Leve, peeled off to the right, fell about 6,000 feet in a straight dive, then leveled off before hitting cloud cover.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, eight were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.303rdbg.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Johnston Family Tree
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Jim Jacobus