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name
SHERMAN, Harry Francis - Date of
birth
23 January 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut -
Hometown
Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
11105827 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 July 1944 - Place of
death
Near Hoorn, Holland
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 8 | 31 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lawrence S. Sherman (father)
Grace E. (Tibbetts) Sherman (mother)
June E. Sherman (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107070 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: North Star
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil plants
MACR: 7368
More information
S/Sgt Harry F. Sherman was a tool sharpener.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Springfield, Massachusetts on 24 October 1942.
At 0604 hours at 5238 N-0455 E, aircraft n° 42-107070 was rammed by aircraft n° 42-97983, as a result of the first aircraft dropping back when caught in prop wash.
The plane lost the propellors and n° 2 engine, fire starting in the left wing spreading aircraft n° 42-107070 which was meshed together.
The planes parted the formation at 10.000 feet spinning and disintegrating, both exploding before hitting the ground.
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five were killed.
The casualties of both planes were initially buried at the community cemetery of Hoorn on 12 July 1944.
The last picture is of a monument dedicated to the men of the B-17G, in Hoorn, the Netherlands.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.390th.org
Photo source: Brian McCullough, Peter Schouteten, Frank Leek