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Personal info

Full name
SPEDDING, Edward William
Date of birth
15 April 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Albion, Orleans County, New York
Hometown
Oswego County, New York

Military service

Service number
O-767677
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
409th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
4 November 1944
Place of death
North Sea, Fove miles north of Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
William Spedding (father)
Flora M. Spedding (mother)
Clifford T. Spedding (brother)
Anna M. Spedding (sister)
Mattie I. Spedding (sister)
Thomas J. Spedding (brother)
Mary E. (Hogan) Spedding (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-109815
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Misburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing Operational
MACR: 10359

More information

2nd Lt Edward W. Spedding attended high school for four years.

He enlisted on 21 August 1942 at Syracuse, New York.

He was on his 19th mission when he was shot down over Wilhelmshaven. Entering the service in August, 1942, he went overseas in June, 1944.

There was no eyewitness available who saw the aircraft leave the formation. No one will specifically claim seeing the aircraft over the target, but those crews in the same squadron "believe" he was in formation at "Bombs away" position - at least they didn't notice any vacancy. During release and after rally, nothing was seen of the aircraft, nor was there any radio communication with it.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census, www.myheritage.nl - Council Bluffs Iowa Nonpareil, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.myheritage.nl - Council Bluffs Iowa Nonpareil, The War Years, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class Book 44-B Chico AAF California