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name
SLIFF, Lawrence J "Sonny" - Date of
birth
30 November 1918 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Hemet, Riverside County, California -
Hometown
Hemet, Riverside County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
6555974 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Gunner -
Unit
368th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
17 April 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, north of Bremen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Luke W. Sliff (father)
Florence M. Sliff (mother)
Donald R. Sliff (brother)
Helen L. Sliff (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3034 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Bodacious Critter
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke Wulf aviation industry plant
MACR: 15518
More information
S/Sgt Lawrence J. Sliff has been in the army nearly eight years and was overseas seven months.The aircraft is believed to have turned back toward the enemy coast at 54 deg 10 min N - 06 deg 40 min E, and is believed to have crashed into the sea.
The entire crew of 10 was killed. Nine are remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten, one, William R. Payne, is remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge.
Together with his brother, S/Sgt Donald R. Sliff, who is buried at Ardennes Cemetery, he is remembered at the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery in San Jacinto, Riverside County, California.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Riverside Daily Press California - 18 May 1943, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com, Family2Gather, Hans Wijnands