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name
DIAS, George Vargas - Date of
birth
28 May 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Contra Costa County, California -
Hometown
Contra Costa County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19141535 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
614th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
7 October 1944 - Place of
death
Stettin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Neubert V. Dias (father)
Marguerita (Rose) Dias (mother)
Albert F. Dias (brother)
Willie Dias (brother)
Alfred M. Dias (brother)
Nubert Dias (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6145 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Cover Girl
Destination: Politz, Germany
MACR: 9756
More information
George Dias was a mechanic before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in San Francisco, California on 30 October 1942.Flak on the bomb run from Stettin to Politz was intense and accurate. As a result, the 401st lost five aircraft, and the Wing lost 17 of the 142 aircraft which attacked Politz. The airplane received a direct burst in the right wing root, adjacent to bomb bay. The right wing caught fire; the airplane went down, the right wing coming off and believed to explode.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, Footnote.com, 401bg.org, Missing Air Crew Report, www.ancestry.com - California Birth Index,1940 Census, www.fold3.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.honorstates.org