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Personal info

Full name
LANDRETH, Calvin F
Date of birth
1922
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Arkansas
Hometown
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
15104217
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
67th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
14 May 1943
Place of death
Near Embühren, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 38 20

Immediate family

Members
William Landreth (father)
Elvina (Sherrell) Landreth (mother)
Marvin T. Landreth (brother)
James B. Landreth (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-40126
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Annie Oakley “Crack Shot”
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the submarine yards and naval installations
MACR: 2441

More information

S/Sgt Calvin F. Landreth attended high school for 3 years and was an electrician. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on 4 July 1942.

The aircraft was shot down by a German fighter near Embühren. Two crew members bailed out. 1st Lt. Louis L. Kissinger was captured. 1st Lt. Wyatt S. Kennon’s parachute landed in Feldmark Gross-Vollstedt and was later shot while trying to escape. The Pilot, 1st Lt Roach died of his wounds in a hospital at Rendsburg, Germany.

Six completely charred bodies were recovered at the crashsite of the downed American aircraft on 17 May 1943. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Neumünster South on 18 May 1943.

Source of information:  Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / Family Tree

Photo source: Peter Schouteten