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Personal info

Full name
MURPHY, James Vincent
Date of birth
16 November 1917
Age
26
Place of birth
Queens, Queens County, New York
Hometown
Queens, Queens County, New York

Military service

Service number
32725616
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 April 1944
Place of death
Wesendorf, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 13 4

Immediate family

Members
Bridget Murphy (mother)
Andrew Murphy (brother)
William Murphy (brother)
Mary Murphy (sister)
Alice Murphy (sister)
Agnes Murphy (sister)
Mildred M. Murphy (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31124
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of power plant
MACR: 4246

More information

The aircraft was shot down by an enemy fighter. According to statements of surviving crew members, S/Sgt Murphy bailed out, but his parachute failed to open, or he was killed by German civilians shortly after landing.

It was his third mission.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com/db/index.php, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.wwiimemorial.com, Peter Schouteten