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name
MILLER, Warren Robert - Date of
birth
2 March 1920 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Crawfordville, Taliaferro County, Georgia -
Hometown
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
T-121366 -
Rank
Flight Officer -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
85th Squadron,
437th Troop Carrier Group
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Northeast of Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 21 | 25 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Warren J. Miller (father)
Mabel B. Miller (mother)
Kenneth L. Miller (brother)
Nell (Turner) Miller (wife)
Warren R. Miller Jr. (son)
Warren R. Miller III (grandson)
Plane data
- Serial
number
45-6097 -
Data
Type: CG-4A
Destination: Northeast of Wesel, Germany
Mission: Landing personnel
MACR: 13357
More information
F/O Warren R. Miller made a routine flight until he reached the designated drop zone. His glider was cut loose from the tow plane and crashed into the side of the house. Then he took cover under a hedgerow and unloaded the glider the next day with the help of some paratroopers. From then, he got two mines and blasted a concrete wall eight feet high to get a mobile gun on the road. He was able to get a jeep from a glider that had landed nearby and took equipment through the breach and made a road block. This helped him and other paratroopers retake the nearby town. He left the battle and spent several days in other paratrooper patrols. The next day he went to the coast and returned on a boat to England with many German prisoners. He was reported missing in action over Germany on 3/24/1945.Statement (1) From James W. Bartelgen, F/O, Air Corps:
" On March 1945, F/O Warren R Miller was flying Glider No. 45-6097 (position 99) and I, James W. Bartelsen, was flying Glider No. 43-43004 (position 100). The mission was a double tow putting Warren R. Miller and myself on the same tow. Because of smoke over the LZ, we overshot our cut off point. When Glider No. 45-6097 finally out off I followed him in on what seemed to be a 180 degrees approach. When I last looked ahead I saw flak hit his right elevator. Just after I last saw him I pulled my tail chute and we dropped below him. I asumed he kept the same heading and landed farther down. The last time I saw him he was 100ft. in the air and slightly ahead of me. I didn't see him land and can't say he crashed. "
Statement (2) from Robert G. Miller 2nd Lt., Air Corps:
" On 24 March 1945 I was in Glider No. 43-43004 (Position 100) on long tow behind the same tow ship as Glider No. 45-6097 (position 99) flown by F/O Warren R. Miller, who was on short tpw. Due to ground haze and the smoke screen, both Gliders overshot the LZ. During the tow nothing unusual was observed concerning Glider No. 45-6097. As soon as he out we cut and followed his in on a 180 degrees approach. The last time I saw the Glider it seemed to be under good control. I began knocking out our side windows and never observed Glider No. 45-6097 again. There was a good deal of enemy opposition after we got on the ground and since we were some distance from our LZ, it is possible that Glider No. 45-6097 also met enemy opposition and was captured."
Note: Pilot F/O Warren R. Miller, Co pilot Lt Paul J. Francis and 15 members from the 17 Airborne Division were killed by German machinegun fire after there were landing.
Source of information: Linda Kempener, Warren R. Miller Jr., Terry Hirsch, N.A.R.A., www.wwiimemorial.com, http://www.cmstory.org/content/miller-warren-robert-flight-officer - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library / The Charlotte Observer, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census / WWII Draft Card Young Men
Photo source: FOHF, Warren R. Miller Jr.