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name
WELLS, Virgil W - Date of
birth
27 September 1915 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Fleming County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Woodford County, Kentucky
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35473605 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - 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
Baxter F. Wells (father)
Emma (Vandandingham) Wells (mother)
Marvin T. Wells (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7471 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Filthy Annie
Destination: Frisian Islands
Mission: Diversion
MACR: 890
More information
S/Sgt Virgil W. Wells graduated from Picadone High school and attended the University of Kentucky. He was a routeman.He enlisted in Cincinnati, Ohio on 9 September 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, www.B24.net, National WWII Memorial, NARA
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers