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name
ANDRUS, Don G - Date of
birth
28 June 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
New York City, New York -
Hometown
Scarsdale, Westchester County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-754044 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
485th Fighter Squadron,
370th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 December 1944 - Place of
death
Champlon, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 1 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Leon A. Andrus (father)
Ethel. Andrus (mother)
Craig Andrus (brother)
Dow Andrus (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-104077 -
Data
Type: P-38J
Destination: Area of Liège, Belgium
Mission: Armed reconnaissance
MACR: 11407
More information
Don Andrus was a salesman.He joined the Cavalry of the National Guard in New York City, New York on 27 January 1941 and later transferred to the Air Corps.
Statement of Lt Liebert W. Bowyer Jr., who flew in the same mission: "I was flying #2 position in Zenith White flight on Lt Andrus wing. In order to indentify traffic on a road at P3970 (about 36 miles south of Liege), Lt Andrus and I went down to investigate. We received heavy and accurate light flak fire from the wooded area surrounding the road, and Lt Andrus did not pull out of his dive, observed his airplane hit the ground and explode. We were flying at 100 ft. I think Lt Andrus didn't get out of his plane.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com 1930 Census, www.fold3.com MACR
Photo source: Jay Jones, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class Book 43-H Luke Field Phoenix Arizona