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name
COPE, Forrest Ray - Date of
birth
19 October 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Spring Hill, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Menifee County, Kentucky
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35680079 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
614th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
11 December 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, off the Dutch Coast
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry A. Cope (father)
Eunice (Temple) Cope (mother)
Temple Cope (sister)
Owen Cope (brother)
Meryl Cope (sister)
Lorraine Cope (sister)
Charles H. Cope (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31098 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Penny's Thunderhead
Destination: Emden, Germany
MACR: 8711
More information
S/Sgt Charles R. Cope graduated from Frenchburg High School n 1941.The ship was so badly damaged by flak that Lt Kaufman ordered the crew to bail out. This was on the Dutch coast and six of the crew were blown out to sea and lost. Two delayed their drop and landed safely.
B-17G 42-31098 (IW-B - Penny's Thunderhead) which landed at Lindholme RAF base, Yorkshire, after sustaining heavy battle damage (eight crew members having bailed out).
S/Sgt Cope is remembered at Mack Cemetery in Frenchburg, Menifee County, Kentucky with a memorial marker.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Andy Swinnen, www.findagrave.com
Photo source: Jac Engels, Andy Swinnen, www.findagrave.com - DemBonz