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Personal info

Full name
STRANEY, Calvin Earl
Date of birth
4 May 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Hampton, Rock Island County, Illinois
Hometown
Rock Island County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
O-814434
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
570th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 September 1944
Place of death
Hubbelrath near Düsseldorf, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
N 21 17

Immediate family

Members
Earl B. Straney (father)
Ruth I. Straney (mother)
Norma (Dense) Straney (wife)
Gail L. (Ott) Straney (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97871
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Bundles of Trouble
Destination: Düsseldorf, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 8915

More information

1st Lt Calvin E. Straney enlisted in August 1942.

He was married to Norma Dense on 1 August 1942.

The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to him for extraordinary achievement while serving as navigator on many high altitude heavy bombardment missions against the enemy over Continental Europe. Straney, expertly navigating aircraft, had contributed materially to the successful destruction of targets highly important to the enemy's war effort, The skill, energy and resourcefulness displayed by Lt Straney on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States military forces.

Statement from Kenneth J. Binder, Captain, Air Corps, Statistical Officer:

"A/C 871 received a direct hit by flak at target at 1033 hours, blowing up immediately. No chutes reported."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Social Security Death Index / 1940 Census / Patrick's Ancestry, www.newspapers.com - The Daily Times

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Richard E. Drain/Frank R. Drain, www.newspapers.com - The Daily Times