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name
BRATCHER, Francis Earl - Date of
birth
25 January 1925 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Linton, Stockton County, Indiana -
Hometown
Roseville, Macomb County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36585827 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 April 1945 - Place of
death
Teplice, Czech Republic
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 41 | 36 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Adolph E. Bratcher (father)
Marie A. Bratcher (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8647 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Target: Schafstadt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13596
More information
The aircraft collided with B-17 #43-38958.All crew members of both airplanes, seventeen in total, were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.303rdbg.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.footnote.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Gary Moncur, www.303rdbg.com