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Personal info

Full name
MILLER, Lawrence Raymond
Date of birth
8 June 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Hometown
Multnomah County, Oregon

Military service

Service number
39304578
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Nose Turret Gunner
Unit
720th Bombardment Squadron,
450th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
5 April 1944
Place of death
Near Gaesti, Romania

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 5 16

Immediate family

Members
Henry J. Miller (father)
Dorothy I. Miller (mother)
James H. Miller (brother)
Elmer A. Miller (brother)
Henry G. Miller (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-94950
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Ploesti, Romania
Mission: Marshalling yards
MACR: 3965

More information

S/Sgt Lawrence R. Miller joined the Regular Army in Fort Lewis, Washington on 6 December 1941.
He attended high school for 4 years and was a driver.
S/Sgt John Mason:
On 5 April 1944, our group was on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Ploesti, Romania. I was flying as Ball Turret Gunner on #269 in the high right element of the first attack unit. Lt Wagner was flying in plane #42-94950 in the same element. In the vicinity of the target, we were attacked by enemy fighters.
Soon afterwards I saw Lt Wagner’s ship on fire. The aircraft immediately swooped up under our plane and a few seconds later, I saw four chutes open. I lost sight of his ship at 20,000 feet altitude. The time was 14,25 hours.
He was first buried at Block W, Row 1, Grave 18.

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 / 1930 Census / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - D.J. Muller