Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
CHAMBERS, Sidney Nelson - Date of
birth
9 April 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Central, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana -
Hometown
Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38496874 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
358th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 July 1944 - Place of
death
The Starnberger See at Tutzing, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 35 | 55 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Burne B. Chambers (father)
Laura (White) Chambers (mother)
Doris Chambers (sister)
Thelma Chambers (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31583 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Little Princess aka Clover Leaf
Destination: Hollriegelsreth, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Elektrochemische Werke - rocket component industry
MACR: 7415
More information
Sgt Sidney N. Chambers enlisted in New Orleans, Louisiana on 21 July 1943.According to a statement of a crew member of another airplane in the same group, the plane was straggling from his position right after the group turnes away from the target, evidently from flak damage acquired on the bomb run as one of the port engines was smoking.
Than an Me 109 came in on the port side and gave a long burst and it looked as though it was going to peel away, the pilot changed his mind, turned back and gave another short squirt.
The damaged plane didn't stay in formation and four men bailed out.
Five crew members survived and were take prisoner, four were killed. They were initially buried at the soldiers's cemetery of Fuerstenfeldbruck.
A German interrogater told 2nd Lt Marvin S. Boyce, one of the surviving crew members, that Sgt Chambers body was found in the wreckage.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Cards, 1930 US Census
Photo source: Michel Beckers, 303rdbg, www.fold3.com