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Personal info

Full name
HENDERSON, Preston Ray
Date of birth
3 January 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Commerce, Hunt County, Texas
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California

Military service

Service number
19177576
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
339th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 May 1944
Place of death
Near the railroad station of Camburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
O 4 5

Immediate family

Members
Richard L. Henderson (father)
Ruby B. (McDaniel) Henderson (mother)
Christine Henderson (daughter)
Thomas A. Henderson (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-102578
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brux, Czechoslovakia
Mission: Bombing of the Sudetenlandische Teibstoffwerke AG, hydrogenation plant
MACR: 4863

More information

T/Sgt Preston R. Henderson graduated from Hamilton High School and was employed at North American Aircraft.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Los Angeles, California on 7 December 1942.

While, approximately, over the town of Limburg, Germany, (near Frankfort), the formation was attacked by fighters. The altitude at that time was 17,000 feet. Within the next few minutes the pilot called over the intercom system "fighter coming in head on boys". Almost immediately there was a blinding crash with one of the attacking fighters.
Sgt Lanham, the tail gunner was blown out and remained conscious enough to pull his parachute cord after falling free for a considerable distance. The navigator, Lt Clifford Jones managed to escape through the front hatch. The other eight crew members were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlisment Record, www.ancestry.com - family trees, www.fold3.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / MACR

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet