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Submit- Full
name
TOWNSEND, Earl Lawrence - Date of
birth
18 May 1924 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Gridley, McLean County, Illinois -
Hometown
Carroll County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-826568 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
62nd Fighter Squadron,
56th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 March 1945 - Place of
death
North Sea, off the coast of Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 25 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Earl R. Townsend (father)
Mildred I. Townsend (mother)
Irene Townsend (sister)
Barbara A. Townsend (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-21136 -
Data
Type: P-47M
Destination: Ramrod-Holzwickede, Germany
More information
2nd Lt Earl L. Townsend graduated from Cutler High School and he attended Purdue University with the Class of 1945. He was employed at Aluminum Company Of America.His airplane developed an oil leak during today's Ramrod. While returning to Boxted the aircraft's engine failed while still over the North Sea and while bailing out 2nd Lt Townsend is believed to have struck the aircraft's tail and killed.
His body washed ashore on the beach of Wenduine, Belgium on 1 May 1945.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Kathy McDermott, www.56thfightergroup.co.uk, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census, www.7tharmddiv.org
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Nigel Julian