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Personal info

Full name
SHAW, Howard Alexander
Date of birth
4 October 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Boggs township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Decatur, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33253277
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer
Unit
614th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 December 1943
Place of death
North Sea, off the Dutch Coast

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
B 4 4

Immediate family

Members
Newton M. Shaw (father)
Gertrude I. Shaw (mother)
Edward Shaw (brother)
Cecil Shaw (brother)
Russell Shaw (brother)
Jean Shaw (sister)
Harold Shaw (brother)
Marie Shaw (sister)
Cletes Shaw (brother)
Donald Shaw (brother)
Eleanor Shaw (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31098
Data
Nickname: Penny's Thunderhead
Type: B-17G
Mission: Emden, Germany
MACR: 8711

More information

The ship was so badly damaged by flak that Lt Kaufman ordered the crew to bail out. This was on the Dutch coast, and six of the crew were blown out to sea and lost. Two delayed their drop and landed safely.

B-17G 42-31098 (IW-B - Penny's Thunderhead), landed at Lindholme RAF base, Yorkshire, after sustaining heavy battle damage (eight crew members having bailed out).
He had been in the Army since 17 September 1942, and prior to induction, he was employed by the Wooldridge Coal Co.

Additional information is available at www.remember-our-heroes.nl

Source of information: FOHF, www.ancestry.com The Clearfield Progress - 16 March 1943 / 9 June 1943 / 6 October 1943 / 1940 Census / Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: FOHF