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name
PRANGE, John M - Date of
birth
10 March 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Darien, Fairfield County, Connecticut -
Hometown
Newburgh, Orange County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12153001 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
340th Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 April 1944 - Place of
death
Near Beiul, Romania
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 7 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Fred G. Prange (father)
Anna T. Prange (mother)
Frederick T. Prange (brother)
Robert W. Prange (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97499 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Ploesti, Romania
Mission: Oil Refinery
MACR: 3977
More information
Sgt John M. Prange graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1940 and was a payroll clerk.He volunteered for the U.S. Army in New York City, New York on 14 October 1942.
Statement from S/Sgt Marvin W. Pierson:
"While flying over Romania, we were only a few minutes past the target when one B-17 blew up. I could not see any fighters near, so I did not know the reason for it doing so. Shortly afterward, a B-17, out of the element just behind us, was starting to lag and lost about a 1,000 ft in altitude, right directly below us. I saw it being attacked by one fighter. I made one pass and nothing seemed to happen. It then circled and flew along with the B-17 off to one side. It then made another pass on the B-17 and our aircraft started to smoke, and seemed a little out of control. I saw two parachutes before the aircraft got into the clouds, where I lost sight of it."
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, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census
Photo source: FOHF, Newburgh Free Academy, 1939, The Newburgh News - 16 October 1943