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name
CROTTY, Gerrald E - Date of
birth
10 November 1922 -
Age
22 -
Place of birth
Ventura County, California -
Hometown
Santa Paula, Ventura County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19181308 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
564th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| F | 17 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Thomas F. Crotty (father)
Kate Crotty (mother)
John D. Crotty (brother)
Genevieve H. Crotty (sister)
Robert E. Crotty (brother)
Magaret D. Crotty (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95240 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: The Old Veteran
Destination: Wesel, Germany
Mission: Supply drop
MACR: 13543
More information
S/Sgt Gerrald E. Crotty attended Santa Paula High School. He was part of the Championship Speech Club's Forensic club. He was also active for the school newspaper. He also attended college an ran an auto repair shop.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Los Angeles, California on 14 November 1942.
Statement of an eyewitness, 2 nd Lt John O. Kellogg:
"Right after target I saw aircraft 42-95240 which was flying off my right wing, nose down, crash and then blow up. Tracers of small arms fire were seen to be fired into the belly of the aircraft. No parachutes was seen, the aircraft was flying at approximately 300 feet."
The entire crew of nine was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten,www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - California Birth Index
Photo source: Peter Schouteten