Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
HAYES, Beverly Addison - Date of
birth
19 April 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Frostburg, Allegany County, Maryland -
Hometown
Frostburg, Allegany County, Maryland
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13075930 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 August 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Merseburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 21 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Beverly P. Hayes (father)
Margaret (Goldsworthy) Hayes (mother)
John R. Hayes (brother)
Lucille L. Hayes (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97991 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 8207
More information
Beverly A. Hayes graduated from Beall High School and was a financial institution clerk at the Frostburg National Bank.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Baltimore, Maryland on 15 May 1942.
Statement from Capt Aubrey C. Moulton:
"I was bombardier on this mission. Our plane was the lead plane assigned to the 305th Bomber Group. About ten minutes before reaching our target area, we were attacked by flak and German jet fighters. The wing tanks were hit and the plane caught on fire. Just a moment before reaching the target, the pilot gave the order to bail out. I released the bombs just over the target and was the fifth crew member to bail out through the nose section. During my descent by parachute, I observed the plane was disintegrating in the air, because the tail section and right wing had become separated from the plane."
Nine crew members survived and were taken prisoner, two men were killed.
Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR 8207, www.ancestry.com, The Cumberland News (Cumberland, Maryland)
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, The Cumberland News (Cumberland, Maryland)