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name
MIDKIFF, Frank Lee - Date of
birth
12 July 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Amelia County, Virginia -
Hometown
Amelia County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33229124 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
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 |
|---|---|---|
| K | 14 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lawrence J. Midkiff (father)
Lilian F. (Simonton) Midkiff (mother)
George L. Midkiff (brother)
Conrad Midkiff (brother)
Harry Midkiff (brother)
Katherine E. (Smith) Midkiff (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31233 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1707
More information
S/Sgt Frank L. Midkiff enlisted in Richmond, Virginia on 3 November 1942.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.
His cousin, Howard Midkiff, is buried at Plot K, Row 13, Grave 16.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.archives.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 census / Birth Index / Marriage Record
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.303rdbg.com