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name
ATKINS, Cornelius Johnson - Date of
birth
24 August 1924 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Atlanta, Georgia -
Hometown
Providence County, Rhode Island -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-945742 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Morris Phinney (stepfather)
Missis Hope (half-sister)
Ruth Phinney (half-sister)
Morris Phinney (half-brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-10620 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: The Falcon Returns
Mission: Trolley mission
MACR: 16337
More information
2nd Lt Cornelius E. Atkins graduated from Middlesex High School in Jun, 1942. Shortly after graduation he entered Harvard University.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States and while waiting to be called, worked in the Rheem Shipyard in Providence. He entered the service on 25 May 1943 and received his wings in Frederick, Oklahoma on 4 August 1944 with the rank of Flight Officer. He was was sent overseas on 1 March 1945. He was posthumously commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
Trolley missions were flown in early May 1945. The purpose being to provide all crew and ground personnel the opportunity to see the results of their contribution in the strategic air war against Germany. Many precautions were taken on these missions, and the most responsible and experienced pilots were chosen to fly. There were no trolley missions flown in bad weather. Despite such precautions, accidents occurred, such as this.
The crew decided to circle the cathedral in Koblenz. Presumably the airplane unfortunately flew much too low and collided with supply lines, which were stretched over the river Rhine. Due to the low altitude an evasive maneuver of the airplane was not possible any more. The plane crashed into one of the bridge piers.
All nineteen men aboard were killed, and the remains of only six of them were recovered.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com U.S. School Yearbook
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, U.S. School Yearbook