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Personal info

Full name
MELLON, James Benedict Jr
Date of birth
4 October 1915
Age
28
Place of birth
Connecticut
Hometown
Naugatuck, New Haven County, Connecticut

Military service

Service number
31281346
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
28 September 1944
Place of death
Near Hornburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 20 21

Immediate family

Members
James B. Mellon (father)
Julia Mellon (mother)
Robert Mellon (brother)
Teresa (Wesig) Mellon (wife)
Richard J. Mellon (son)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38572
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 9404

More information

Sgt James B. Mellon attended college and was an accountant at the Swift Company in Waterbury, Connecticut.

He enlisted in Hartford, connecticut on 21 January 1943.

The formation was victim to severe attacks from enemy fights. The aircraft's right wing was on fire but it apparently was still under control. The entire crew of nine was killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Schladen.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, 303rdBomberGroup.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Death Index, www.newspapers.com - Naugatuck Daily News

Photo source: 303rdBomberGroup.com