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Submit- Full
name
PRICE, Raymond Ellis - Date of
birth
1 June 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Mitchell County, Texas -
Hometown
Mitchell County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-820820 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
565th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 December 1944 - Place of
death
In a meadow at the Rue de Pachis
Manhay, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 5 | 50 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ellis J. Price (father)
Annie Price (mother)
Rachel Price (sister)
Roy Price (brother)
Doris Price (sister)
Floyd Price (brother)
John Price (Nephew)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50612 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: King Size
Destination: Wahlen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the communication center
MACR: 11106
More information
Raymond Price worked on a farm.He volunteered for the Army of the United States in Lubbock, Texas on 15 April 1942.
After bombs away, the airplane was hit by approximately fifteen FW-190 fighters and the aircraft then went into a spin. The pilot was able to get the aircraft under control at about 15,000 feet. At that time the aircraft was on fire and the engines were running away. When reaching the Belgian border it was again attacked by five Fw-190's. The plane was still under partial control but the pilot gave the order to bail out.
Only two crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Seven men were killed.
The attack and crash was witnessed by the then six year old Victor Yansenne. Through all the years that came, he made sure the land stayed untouched. In june 2013, he contacted the community of Manhay and a group of researchers was called in to find out what plane it was and who was in it. In november 2017 the group identified the lost B-24.
On 10 October 2018 a monument was revealed at the spot of the crash.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - John Dowdy / Beth