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name
PRATT, Joe Frank - Date of
birth
12 January 1924 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Abilene, Taylor County, Texas -
Hometown
Palo Pinto County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38513794 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Gunner -
Unit
451st Bombardment Squadron,
322nd Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
unknown - Date of
death
18 March 1945 - Place of
death
unknown
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 19 | 28 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William C. Pratt (father)
Zadie E. (Jackson) Pratt (mother)
Louis R. Pratt (brother)
Posie R. Pratt (brother)
James D. Pratt (brother)
Pauline E. Pratt (sister)
Edward E. Pratt (brother)
Warnick C. Pratt (sister)
Charles A. Pratt (brother)
Ruby N. Pratt (sister)
More information
Sgt Joe F. Pratt enlisted in Abilene, Texas on 12 May 1943.That day, a few minutes after takeoff from the airbase of Beauvais-Tillé for a mission over Germany, the B-26 "Marauder" in which he was flying crashed, caught by the blast of the explosion of two other "Marauders" which collided whilst getting into formation. This dramatic catastrophe immediately resulted in the death of the crews of the three bombers. Miraculously, the leading pilot of the Squadron, 1st Lt. Alex O. Cordes, survived.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Solers, France.
Sgt Pratt is remembered at the Macedonia Cemetery in Stephens County, Texas.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.findagrave.com – Lynn Winn, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Merrell Family Tree,
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Andy / Lynn Winn