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Personal info

Full name
PURDY, Harry Martin
Date of birth
5 March 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Hometown
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
O-702334
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
330th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
20 June 1944
Place of death
16 km northeast of Stettin, Germany (now Poland)

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Harry Purdy (father)
Elinore Purdy (mother)
Robert Purdy (brother)
Allen Purdy (brother)
Anabel E. (Hill) Purdy (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95039
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Politz, Germany
Mission: Bombing of oil refinery
MACR: 6152

More information

2nd Lt Harry M. Purdy graduated from Lansing High School and attended the University of Michigan. He was working in the tool and die business before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve on 16 September 1942 in Detroit, Michigan.

Regarding to the circumstances of the crash, 1st Lt Thomas B. Parry stated:
"Aircraft #42-95039 seemed to have been hit under tight wing approximately middle way. When this happened aircraft made a slow roll to the left. Just as ship got half way over he started to dive. I followed this ship down approximately 500 feet and the ship was still intact, however as far as I saw this aircraft it was still making spins."
He managed to bail out. It is believed that after he landed with his parachute, civilians got hold of him, killed him and destroyed his dog tags.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com -MACR, www.8thafhs.com/db/index.php, www.ancestry.com - United States World War II Army Enlistment Records / 1930 census, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Fred Munckhof, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class Book 43-K Blackland Army Air Field Arizona / Pilot 43-K Waco Texas, www.ancestry.com - Lansing High School 1934