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name
SHIELDS, Edward Francis Jr "Eddie" - Date of
birth
13 January 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Atlantic County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-816604 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 September 1944 - Place of
death
Southwest of Helmstedt Air Base
Süpplingen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 12 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edward F. Shields Sr. (father)
Mary L. (Callahan) Shields (mother)
Anne M. Shields (sister)
Margaret M. Shields (sister)
William Shields (brother)
C. Patrick Shields (brother)
Patricia Shields (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8330 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Braunkohle (BRABAG) synthetic oil plant
MACR: 9404
More information
1st Lt Edward F. Shields graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1940. He was employed with the Pennsylvania Railroad.He volunteered for the Army of the United States in New York City, New York on 11 March 1942.
The B-17 went into a spin after being attacked by German fighters and exploded almost immediately thereafter. Two crew members could bail out and were taken prisoner. Seven men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Süpplingen.
Lt Shields is commemorated on a monument in the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. The Monument commemorates the Pennsylvania Railroad employees who died in World War II.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 303bombgroup, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Card / 1940 Census
Photo source: Michel Beckers, 303bombgroup, Pleasantville High School 1940, Bill Shields Jr. (nephew)