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Personal info

Full name
LA VELLE, Francis Jerome
Date of birth
26 July 1912
Age
31
Place of birth
Murray, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Elmira, Chemung County, New York

Military service

Service number
12080864
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
703rd Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
20 February 1944
Place of death
Sessenhausen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
J 16 7

Immediate family

Members
James H. La Velle (father)
Anna K. (Murray) La Velle (mother)
Michael A La Velle (brother)
James T. La Velle (brother)
Timothy A. La Velle (brother)
Mary E. La Velle (sister)
Mildred M. La Velle (sister)
Joseph La Velle (brother)
Patrick J. La Velle (brother)
Lawrence C. La Velle (brother)
Gladys V. (Guile) La Velle (wife)
Lawrence J. La Velle (son)

Plane data

Serial number
42-64439
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of aviation industry
MACR: 2438

More information

An enemy fighter was going after attacked the airpllane and a few minutes later, it burst into flames and exploded. All crew members were killed.

T/Sgt Francis LaVelle was missing in action on 20 February 1944 and presumed dead on 1 October 1945.

In 1947, the remains of Francis La Velle were identified and buried in a temporary grave at Margraten.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Leigh Taffe Acla