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Personal info

Full name
MURRAY, John P
Date of birth
1923
Age
unknown
Place of birth
New York
Hometown
The Bronx, Bronx County, New York

Military service

Service number
12193506
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner
Unit
853rd Bombardment Squadron,
491st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 November 1944
Place of death
Gehrden, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 37 16

Immediate family

Members
William F. Murray (father)
Mary Murray (mother)
William Murray (brother)
Richard Murray (brother)
James Murray (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-40205
Data
Type: B-24 J
Nickname: The Moose
Mission: Aerial Combat
Macr: 10765

More information

Individual Casualty Questionnaire:
"Plane was riddled by fighters and set on fire in bomb bay and number 2 engine, plane blew up shortly after bail out alarm was given. All attacks were from the rear and holes were appearing in the back of the bomb bay.
It is possible that S/Sgt Murray was killed by enemy fire before the bail out signal was given."

S/Sgt John P. Murray first buried at Temporary American Military Cemetery Ardennes, Belgium Block K, Row 12, Grave 281.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA, Missing Aircrew Report 10765, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Records

Photo source: Dennis and Gerda Hermsen, http://www.491st.org/