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Personal info

Full name
MURPHY, Edward Hickey "Ed"
Date of birth
3 March 1925
Age
20
Place of birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Hometown
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
O-821533
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
413th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
31 March 1945
Place of death
Zeitz-Troglitz, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
O 19 10

Immediate family

Members
Clement W. Murphy (father)
Helen K. (Hickey) Murphy (mother)
William C. Roney (stepfather)
Mary L. Murphy (sister)
Cynthia Murphy (sister)
Frederick H. Murphy (twin brother)
William C. Roney (stepbrother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38935
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Zeitz-Ttroglitz, Germany
Mission: Bombing of Braunkohle-Benzin AG, synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 13715

More information

The entire crew was killed in action.

Statement of 2nd Lt Robert J. Lucas:
"A/C 935 was hit by flak over Zeitz at 0926 hours, #2 engine bursting into flames and caus ing #1 prop to be feathered. Flames swept back, enveloping the radio room as the a/c started to spin and broke in half. Pieces of the a/c were seen to hit the ground. Five chutes were observed to leave the a/c; one appeared to be a delayed jump while the other four seemed to collapse, and it's doubtful if any of them opened succesfully."

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - Marriage Records / 1940 Census

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, www.newspapers.com - Detroit Free Press