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name
NEILSON, David Harry - Date of
birth
10 December 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois -
Hometown
Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36005588 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 January 1944 - Place of
death
Near Vrigny, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 19 | 29 |
Immediate family
-
Members
David E. Neilson (father)
Genevieve A. (Gillette) Neilson (mother)
Helen A. Neilson (sister)
Robert C. Neilson (brother)
La Vergne L. (Pidrman) Neilson (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-40747 -
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Heavy Date
Destination: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 1851
More information
Sgt. David H. Neilson he enlisted in Chicago, Illinois on 25 February 1941.On 7 January 1944, Heavy Date, was assigned to bomb the Ludwigshafen Oil Refinery in Germany, piloted by Lt. Carl A. Mattson. The plane was attacked, shot up, and damaged by German fighters, It fell out of control and out of position in its formation. It's cockpit caught on fire, as it fell into a spin and crashed. Some of the crew were able to bail out the plane before it exploded and crashed, one kilometer northeast of Vrigny, France.
Lt Shirley D. Berry:
Had been shot in top turret and could not move. He was in the ship when it exploded.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Solers, France.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Thompson Tree, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.findagrave.com – John Dowdy
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy