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name
TROXELL, Dee Lavern - Date of
birth
26 May 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Shamrock, Wheeler County, Texas -
Hometown
Shamrock, Wheeler County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18184948 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 December 1943 - Place of
death
Near Coudray Farm, Chemin de la Reine Blanche
Berville, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 29 | 53 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Sherman T. Troxell (father)
Sallie E. Troxell (mother)
Ruby L. Troxell (sister)
Olan O. Troxell (brother)
George T. Troxell (brother)
Sherman A. Troxell (brother)
Estelle Troxell (half-sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31173 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Maid To Please
Destination: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the IG Farben oil refinery
MACR: 1770
More information
Dee Troxell attended college before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Lubbock, Texas on 5 December 1942.On returning, the aircraft was shot down by a Me 110, left formation with the #1 engine smoking, and crashed near Coudray Farm at Berville.
Four crew members were killed and buried at the cemetery of Pontoise, France, on 4 January 1944.
The remains of Sgt Troxell were found in the wreck of the airplane.
Five men were taken prisoner, and one, S/Sgt Walter E. Dickerman, evaded capture and managed to get back to England.
This was the first mission for the entire crew.
A memorial plaque was erected at the location of the crash.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com – family trees, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy, Nelda Zamir