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Submit- Full
name
PURDY, Robert Frazier - Date of
birth
28 January 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee -
Hometown
DeKalb County, Alabama
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-797606 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
4 October 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, north of the Frisian Islands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Gorden B. Purdy Sr. (father)
Virginia (Frasier) Purdy (mother)
Thelma A. Purdy (sister)
Gorden B. Purdy Jr. (brother)
Frederick E. Purdy (brother)
Betty S. Purdy (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7471 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Filthy Annie
Destination: Frisian Islands
Mission: Diversion
MACR: 890
More information
2nd Lt Robert F. Purdy was a salesman. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama on 17 March 1942.The mission's objective was to deconcentrate German defenses, primarily fighter units, and draw them away from the main bomber routes across the continent.
The B-24 was last seen falling in a mild spin at about 10,000 feet followed closely by four enemy fighters. One or two parachutes were reported seen from this aircraft. A wing tip and the tail assembly had been damaged and partially torn off as a result of a mid-air collision with one of the other Group aircraft, believed to be B-24 # 42-7481.
The entire crew of ten was killed. Five are listed on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten and five are listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees
Photo source: www.findagrave.com