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name
HESS, Raymond Edward - Date of
birth
29 October 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Wilmore, Cambria County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Wilmore, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13084696 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
562nd Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 March 1944 - Place of
death
Zwartemeer, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 10 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Samuel L. Hess (father)
Sidney G. (Plummer) Hess (mother)
Russell P. Hess (brother)
James Hess (brother)
Rebecca J. Hess (sister)
Walter Hess (brother)
Pearl G. Hess (sister)
Edith M. Hess (sister)
Hilda Hess (sister)
Ruth Hess (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37886 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Blitzing Betsy
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Friedrichstrasse railroad station
MACR: 3089
More information
Raymond E. Hess was a service attendant.He joined the Air Corps on 8 October 1942 and trained at Keesler Field in Mississippi. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant while overseas in England.
On the return route, in the vicinity of Quakenbrück, the airplane was hit by enemy fighters. Flames were seen coming out from the cockpit and the #3 engine, and the vertical tail fin was partially shot off. The airplane pulled out of formation slightly and three parachutes came out. Then the airplane started to climb and went up into the lead squadron, striking airplane 42-40054.
S/Sgt Hess was probably killed by the blast when the airplane exploded.
Six crew members were taken prisoner, and four others were killed during the crash. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Schoonebeek on 10 March 1944. An eleventh crew member, John Blatz, died of his injuries in a POW hospital on 18 March 1944. He is buried at Lorraine Cemetery.
S/Sgt Hess was initially buried at the cemetery of Nieuw Dordrecht on 10 March 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.388bg.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR / WWII Draft Card, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Harry Bakker, www.americanairmuseum.com