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Personal info

Full name
GROSE, Arnold Frances
Date of birth
4 April 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Nebraska
Hometown
Mossyrock, Lewis County, Washington

Military service

Service number
O-665679
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 June 1943
Place of death
5 km south of Valburg, Holland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
I 21 13

Immediate family

Members
Andrew F. Grose (father)
Alice F. (Morrison) Grose (mother)
Charles L. Grose (brother)
Dwain E. Grose (brother)
Doris E. Grose (sister)
Cyril O. Grose (brother)
Gordon A. Grose (brother)
Audrey J. Grose (sister)
Alma M. Grose (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
41-24533
Data
Type: B-17F-20-BO
Nickname: Boom Town
Destination: Hüls, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Zeche Auguste Viktoria synthetic rubber plant
MACR: 16205

More information

1st Lt Arnold F. Grose was a lumberman.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, California on 16 October 1941.

Statement form 2nd Lt Walter E. Allen, one of the surviving crew members:
"After trouble began over target we were constantly under enemy attack until we went down. Shortly before the finish several voices were heard to come over the interphone. Proof that the interphone was not out was that a few voices still came over. Twenty millimeter shells burst within 2 yards of me twice. Since the nose was not attacked as severly as the fuselage because nose guns were very active, but ball turret was out. It is logical to believe that many shells hit within the fuselage in the period of 25 minutes of contant attack. Ball Turret operator S/Sgt Gunson, Co-Pilot 1st Lt Grose, Radio Operator T/Sgt Kanetzky and Waist Gunner were all still in the A/C when it struck the ground."

The airplane exploded in the air. Four crew members were killed in the plane, two died on the ground and four were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.findagrave.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Remmen Reunion Tree / 1930 Census / WWII Enlistment Record

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Catherine