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name
VAN DE VOORDE, Rene George - Date of
birth
16 July 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa -
Hometown
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-722901 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
566th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Died of Wounds - Date of
death
3 February 1945 - Place of
death
Ohlendorf, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 43 | 27 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Julius Van De Voorde (father)
Rachel Vervaecke (mother)
Julius H. Van De Voorde (brother)
Dorothy J. Van De Voorde (sister)
Raoul A. Van De Voorde (brother)
Barbara A. Van De Voorde (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50551 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Delectable Doris
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 12370
More information
Lt Van De Voorde's parents were both born in Belgium.The airplane was hit by flak in the pilots compartment and nose. It was abserved to go into a dive, but was pulled out of it. Then it went into a slow roll from which it was pulled out again and then started weaving. Crew members of other bombers in the formation saw nine parachutes leaving the plane before the bombs burst and the ship blew up. Parts of the airplane were crattered in an area of 5000 meters by 500 meters.
Lt. Van De Voorde died in a German hospital on the day of the crash and was initially buried at the cemetery of Ohlendorf on 4 February 1945.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: www.findagrave.coms, Jaap Vermeer