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name
HAMMONDS, Victor Rainey Jr "Buddy" - Date of
birth
26 April 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
El Dorado, Union County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-2064573 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
549th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 December 1944 - Place of
death
Merlau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 15 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Victor R. Hammonds (father)
Arliene (Meisner) Hammonds (mother)
Patricia D. Hammonds (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38233 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Sweet and Lovely
Destination: Gross Ostheim, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 11113
More information
Victor R. Hammonds graduated from C.E. Byrd High School in 1941 and attended Southeast Junior College. He was employed at Arkansas Fuel Oil Company in Mobile, Alabama.He enlisted in Shreveport, Louisiana on 20 April 1943. He was awarded his wings and commission at Hondo Field, Texas, in June 1944 and shipped over to his base in England in September 1944.
Prior to reaching the target area, while over enemy territory, the plane went out of control after being hit by anti-aircraft fire. It left its proper position, zooming down and then collided with aircraft 43-37893, that was leading the section. The #2 propeller of the lead aircraft struck 43-38233 in the waist section. A/C 43-38233 then disintegrated and no parachutes were observed leaving the wreckage of the aircraft.
Only one crew member, the tail gunner, Sgt Calvin Rhodes, survived.
Aircraft 43-37893 managed to return.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, The Liberty Vindicator 25-ja-1945 (Texas), www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Rinehart Family Tree / WWII Enlistment Record / 1940 census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, www.newspapers.com - Monroe Morning World, C. E. Byrd High School 1939