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Personal info

Full name
MC LANE, Royal A "Roy"
Date of birth
15 March 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16147622
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
728th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
10 February 1944
Place of death
Dankern, near Altharen, nine miles northwest of Meppen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 12 9

Immediate family

Members
Raymond P. Mc Lane (father)
Alice E. (Blomberg) Mc Lane (mother)
Sarah S. J. (Dunlap) Mc Lane (sister)
Robert B. R. Mc Lane (brother)
Alice J. Mc Lane (sister)
William J. Mc Lane (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37960
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Delta Girl
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 2539

More information

Sgt Royal A. Mc Lane was a mechanic before he volunteered for the US Army in Chicago, Illinois on 24 November 1942.

Statement from Lt Col Robert B. Satterwhite:
"Aircraft 37960 was last seen approximately 30 minutes after leaving the target at approximately 26,000 feet. The location was about 15 miles west of Hannover, Germany. The group was getting repeated fierce fighter attacks after leaving the target. The Pilot of aircraft 37960 was flying good formation while the fighters were attacking. When last seen this aircraft wandered off with one feathered engine during the attacks."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / Gedcom Family Tree, www.fold3.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Harper High School 1941