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name
SURRATT, Richard L - Date of
birth
1924 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
West Virginia -
Hometown
Logan County, West Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15112278 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
452nd Bombardment Squadron,
322nd Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 November 1944 - Place of
death
Forest du Vau, Gondrecourt-le-Château, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 37 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James C. Surratt (father)
Marie H. Hall (mother)
David Hall (stepfather)
James Surratt (brother)
Jack Surratt (brother)
Geraldine Hall (half sister)
Betty Sue Hall (half sister)
Lorraine Surratt (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-34146 -
Data
Type: B-26G-01
Nickname: Sarah E
Destination: Landau, Germany
MACR: 10180
More information
Richard L. Surratt graduated from Montgomery High School and was employed by the Kopper Coal Co.He volunteered for the Army of the United States at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on 18 March 1942.
The mission was to bomb a target at Landau. The records available doesn't specify the type of target. The secondary target was a bridge in Trier.
According to a statement of 1st Lt James H. McCarty, who was flying another B-26 in the same group, they flew into an overcast when they returned form the secondary target and encountered severe icing conditions. In the vicinity of Nancy, France, his airplane went into a spiral, due to the icing. He managed to pull out of it and called the other group members to hear if they were allright. Alle crews responded except the subject B-26. It was not sighted again.
The entire crew of six men was killed.
Capt Robert R. Hall was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Limey, France.
A monument at the forest commemorates the crew.
He was first buried at Temporary American Military Cemetery of Limey, France.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, http://iagenweb.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.francecrashes39-45.net, West Virginia Memory Project, www.myheritage.nl - The Charleston Gazette
Photo source: Jac Engels, http://iagenweb.org, www.myheritage.nl - The Charleston Gazette