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name
RHODE, Harold Joseph - Date of
birth
3 June 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32765324 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
401st Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 March 1944 - Place of
death
Jävenitz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 32 | 23 |
Immediate family
-
Members
August G.D. Rhode (father)
Mary (Naughton) Rhode (mother)
Joseph Rhode (brother)
Raymond J. Rhode (brother)
Thelma Rhode (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31578 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: My Darling Also
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Friedrichstrasse railroad station
MACR: 2898
More information
S/Sgt Harold J. Rhode graduated from Lincoln High School. He was employed at Central Railroad Company of New Jersey.He joined the Army Air Corps in February, 1943. He was sent overseas in October, 1943.
On the way back, they were attacked by two German FW-190's. The crew managed to kill or wound one of the fighter pilots, but the fighter's plane careered on into the bomber, knocked off the right stabilizer and exploded into a cartwheel of flame. The huge fireball engulfed both attacker and victim and a searing wall of flame also caught a following fighter. It too burst into flames and all three aircraft went down with My Darling Also sliding away apparently still under some degree of control.
Two crew members managed to escape from the airplane before it exploded in mid-air. Eight men were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / James Rhode Family Tree, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, Jersey Journal 1 July 1944 - courtesy of John McParland