Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
VIOLAND, Basil George
Date of birth
2 February 1918
Age
27
Place of birth
Canton, Stark County, Ohio
Hometown
Louisville, Stark County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
35009973
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Toggler
Unit
456th Bombardment Squadron,
323rd Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
3 April 1945
Place of death
Northwest of Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
N 11 4

Immediate family

Members
Charles J. Violand (father)
Clara R. (Bresson) Violand (mother)
Louis Violand (brother)
Blanche Violand (sister)
Dorothy C. Violand (sister)
Loretta Violand (sister)
Mildred Violand (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-34452
Data
Type: B-26G
Nickname: White Tails
Destination: Holzminden, Germany
Mission: Not available
MACR: 14156

More information

Sgt Basil G. Violand graduated from Louisville High School and was employed by the National Fireproofing Corp. in East Canton.

He enlisted on 14 February 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio and was sent overseas in October 1944.

The following statement is from 1st Lt David H. Tessner, who was flying the same mission: "Our formation was forced to enter a large cloud a few moments after bombs away. My left wingman, Lt Evans, flying A/C 43-34452, was last seen in good formation upon entering the cloud. After finding a hole and turning back to rejoin the Group, Lt Evans was not seen. There was moderate rime icing and turbulence in the clouds. No visible damage due to enemy action when the plane was last sighted."

The entire crew of seven men was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment record, www.ancestry.com - The Druckenbrod Family of Stark County, Ohio family tree, 1920/1930/1940 census, www.fold3.com - MACR, Statement, http://www.usaafdata.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Arie-Jan van Hees, Canton Ohio Repository - 21 April 1945