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Personal info

Full name
MC GUIRE, Willis R
Date of birth
9 July 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Bay Shore, Suffolk County, New York
Hometown
Suffolk County, New York

Military service

Service number
O2060827
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Radar Navigator
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
3 March 1945
Place of death
2 km south of Dettum, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 15 19

Immediate family

Members
Percival A. Mc Guire (father)
Flora T. (Tuthill) Mc Guire (mother)
Flore Mc Guire (SIster)
Kathryn E. Mc Guire (sister)
Flora Mc Guire (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-8220
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR: 12892

More information

The aircraft was attacked by one of six enemy jet fighters which made a pass at the formation at 1018 hours over the target just before bombs away. The #1 engine was hit and burst into flames. Bomb bay doors were closed and the aircraft slid away to the left. The left wing was shot off and the aircraft flipped over on its back and exploded. The fuselage broke at the waist door and both wings fell away.

Three crew members were killed and were initially buried at the cemetery of Dettum, six were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com McGuire Family Tree, www.myheritage.nl - familytree, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.100thbg.com