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name
LEMLEY, Marcus Jerome - Date of
birth
17 August 1907 -
Age
36 - Place of
birth
Bosque County, Texas -
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-1699161 -
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel -
Function
Command Pilot -
Unit
Headquarters Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Distinguished Flying Cross
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
12 May 1944 - Place of
death
Near Kamberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 10 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Marshal L. Lemley (father)
Lula B. (Weaver) Lemley (mother)
Samuel M. Lemley (brother)
Juanita M. Lemley (sister)
Fay O. Lemley (sister)
Ray O. Lemley (brother)
Lewana L. Lemley (sister)
Della A. (Wiggins) Lemley (wife)
Marcus J. Lemley Jr. (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97654 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brux, Czechoslovakia
Mission: Bombing of Sudetenlandische Treibstoffwerke AG - Hydrogenation Plant
MACR: 4861
More information
Lt Col Lemley was a former Marine corporal and a clerk with the Los Angeles Railway Co. for four years. In 1940 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a flying officer. Two years later he transferred to the Air Corps of the U.S. Army as a captain. He was sent overseas in April 1943.The plane was the lead pathfinder of this mission and went down in a tight spiral with the right wing cut off at #4 engine and was on fire.
Only two men survived: the pilot, Capt Jim Knupp and the radio operator, Manuel Reuben. The plane crashed at 1215 hours in an open pasture near Kamberg.
He was awarded the Silver Star Medal. The citation cited: Marcus Jerome Lemley, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations.
The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to him posthumously and was presented to his three and half year son in August 1945.
Note: we can provide a news article with a picture of this event if requested for.
Lt Col Lemley was the executive officer of the squadron.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - John Rogers Family Tree / Marriage Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com/db/index.php, The Los Angeles Times 29 August 1945
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Los Angeles Railway - Two Bells - June-July 1944 newsletter