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name
ALLEN, Grant Eugene - Date of
birth
20 August 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13065252 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
412th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
9 October 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, northwest of Heligoland, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Kelly O. Allen (father)
Tressie C. Allen (mother)
Egbert J. Allen (brother)
Thomas Allen (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30377 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Rodger The Lodger II
Destination: Marienberg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke-Wulf aviation plant
MACR: 850
More information
S/Sgt Grant E. Allen worked in a machine shop.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Richmond, Virginia.
The airplane was last seen on the return trip from the target at 1600, with the #2 engine on fire caused by enemy fighters. Soon, the #3 engine was on fire. The airplane exploded in mid-air. Seven parachutes were seen, of which two were on fire.
The entire crew was either killed in the plane or drowned.
One other crew member, James R. Anderson, is also remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten. The other crew members are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery of Cambridge.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Rob Doves, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.95thbg.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.newspapers.com - Lubbock-Avalanche Journal - 31 October 1943
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Rob Doves, Bailey Allen