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name
SAUNDERSON, George Mccullough "Saundy" - Date of
birth
15 July 1922 -
Age
22 -
Place of birth
Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa -
Hometown
Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-780732 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers Bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Jason Mc Cullough Saunderson (father)
Daisy B. (Newcomer) Saunderson (mother)
Jason L. Saunderson (brother)
Betty L. Saunderson (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-10620 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: The Falcon Returns
Mission: Trolley mission
MACR: 16337
More information
2nd Lt George M. Saunderson attended Morningside College and worked in construction.He joined U.S. Army Reserve in Ames, Iowa on 16 September 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant at Aloe Army Airfield on 27 June 1944.
Trolley missions were flown in early May 1945. The purpose being to provide all crew and ground personnel the opportunity to see the results of their contribution in the strategic air war against Germany. Many precautions were taken on these missions, and the most responsible and experienced pilots were chosen to fly. There were no trolley missions flown in bad weather. Despite such precautions, accidents occurred, such as this.
The crew decided to circle the cathedral in Koblenz. Presumably the airplane unfortunately flew much too low and collided with supply lines, which were stretched over the river Rhine. Due to the low altitude an evasive maneuver of the airplane was not possible any more. The plane crashed into one of the bridge piers.
All nineteen men aboard were killed, and the remains of only six of them were recovered.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com Coffelt Family Tree / Iowa, County Births
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://iagenweb.org - The Sioux City Journal - 1 July 1944, www.ancestry.com - East High School Yearbook 1940