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Personal info

Full name
DOHERTY, Floyd Collie Jr
Date of birth
28 January 1925
Age
20
Place of birth
West, McLennan County, Texas
Hometown
Waco, McLennan County, Texas

Military service

Service number
38629817
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
427th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 February 1945
Place of death
East of Jaraczewo, Poland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 32 7

Immediate family

Members
Floyd C. Doherty (father)
Effie V. (Kent) Doherty (mother)
Norma N. (Chamblee) Doherty (sister)
Virginia S. (Deaton) Doherty (sister)
Billy K. Doherty (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31060
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pogue Ma Hone
Destination: Lutzkendorf, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil plant
MACR: 12245

More information

The airplane collided with #43-39149 before bombs away. The right wing hit the tail of #43-39149, knocking out two engines. It dropped down about 10,000 feet below the formation and seemed to be under control. It followed the formation for about 45 minutes and was then lost from sight.

Three crew members were picked up by Russian troops and returned to England on 6 March 1945. One crew member was taken prisoner. Four men were killed.

Sgt Doherty's parachutes failed to open.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.303rdbg.com, WWIImemorial, Footnote, Collysue Lawson

Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.303rdbg.com, Kevin C. Dudley