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name
NESMITH, Ellie Rudolph - Date of
birth
1 October 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Williamsburg County, South Carolina -
Hometown
Macon, Bibb County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-818733 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
418th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 May 1944 - Place of
death
Torgau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 23 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ellie W. Nesmith (father)
Pauline I. Nesmith (mother)
Iva L. Nesmith (sister)
Thelma Nesmith (sister)
Carolyn J. Nesmith (sister)
Annie M. Nesmith (sister)
Elizabeth Nesmith (sister)
Marydel E. Nesith (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107011 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Shining Hour
Destination: Leipzig, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Erla aviation industry
MACR: 5237
More information
2nd Lt Ellie R. Nesmith was a salesman for the Mason Lumber Company in Jacksonville, Florida.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Cochran Field, Macon, Georgia on 25 August 1942.
The airplane was hit by enemy fighters over the target area. The #2 engine and nose was hit by 20 mm. It peeled out of formation, lost altitude, went into a vertical dive, and exploded. Three parachutes were seen.
Six crewmembers were taken prisoner, four were killed. They were initially buried at the city cemetery of Torgau on 1 June 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Peter Schouteten, 100thBombGroup, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.findagrave.com - JLC, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - JLC, The Macon Telegraph - 14 June 1944