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name
SPECK, Russell Cherrington Jr - Date of
birth
27 December 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-681722 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
485th Fighter Squadron,
370th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
14 September 1944 - Place of
death
Southeast of Versailles, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 12 | 53 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Russell C. Speck (father)
Ida L. (Powell) Speck (mother)
Doris L. Speck (sister)
Anna H. (Lehnen) Speck (wife)
Russell C. Speck (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-23167 -
Data
Type: P-38J
Destination: Advanced Landing Ground A-46, Toussus-le-Noble, France
Mission: Cross Country
MACR: 9112
More information
Russell C. Speck Jr. graduated from Olney High School and attended Drexel Institute, School of Engineering.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 18 April 1942 and was commissioned in May 1943.
Pilot 1st Lt Russel C. Speck took off from Advanced Landing Ground A-73, Roye-Amy, France. The destination was Advanced Landing Ground A-46, Toussus Le Noble, France. A few miles before reaching the destination, the airplane crashed. The wreckage was found a few days later. The exact circumstances are not known.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Champigneul, France.
S/Sgt Sidney D. Hébert was a passenger on this transfer flight. He is buried at the American Military Cemetery of Henri-Chapelle.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Pennsylvania Veteran Compensation Application Files WWII / Johnson Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Andy / Bruce Speck, www.newspapers.com - The Philadelphia Inquirer