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Personal info

Full name
GAUGH, Donald Edwin
Date of birth
25 January 1925
Age
19
Place of birth
Ross, Butler County, Ohio
Hometown
Lima, Allen County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
35226782
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
16 August 1944
Place of death
Near Bohlen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 27 18

Immediate family

Members
Stuart L. Gaugh (father)
Anna A. (Williams) Gaugh (mother)
Richard E. Gaugh (brother)
Jack S. Gaugh (brother)
Betty J. Gaugh (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-102609
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bohlen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Braunkohle-Benzin AG (BRABAG) synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 8135

More information

Donald Gaugh graduated from Central High School. He was overseas since in June 1944.

The airplane was hit by enemy aircraft just after the target. The tailgunner bailed out, and his parachute was seen to open. The Ball Turret sustained a direct hit, and consequently was destroyed, and the Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt Gaugh, fell out. It is not believed that he had a parachute on. The Waist Gunner was killed and the rest of the crew landed at Earls Colne, England.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census / Ohio, Birth Index, www.fold3.com, www.newspaperarchive.com - Lima News

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Lima Central High School Yearbook 1943, www.newspaperarchive.com - Lima News