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name
JESS, Ray Willard - Date of
birth
25 January 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Hugo, Lincoln County, Colorado -
Hometown
Strasburg, Arapahoe County, Colorado
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-728876 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
358th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 July 1943 - Place of
death
Berg Bossendorf, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 21 | 19 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry G. Jess (father)
Mollie L. Jess (mother)
Russel T. Jess (brother)
Birdie H. Jess (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5432 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: The Hunting Club
Destination: Huls, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the chemical works and the synthetic rubber plants
MACR: 3077
More information
1st Lt Ray W. Jess graduated from Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1939. He was employed as a teacher at Gilcrest High School. He enlisted in 1941.The plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and attacked by enemy fighters. It went in a tight spiral, making the crew members in the rear helpless to move about.
Six crew members were killed. They were initialy all buried at the Prisoner of War Memorial Cemetery in Sythen, near Haltern, Germany. Four crew members were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, 303rdBomberGroup.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Michel Beckers, 303rdBomberGroup.com, www.findagrave.com - patootie, Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts 1939