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Personal info

Full name
YOUNG, Smith J
Date of birth
9 February 1917
Age
26
Place of birth
Yancey County, North Carolina
Hometown
Crabtree, Yancey County, North Carolina

Military service

Service number
15066384
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
351st Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
10 October 1943
Place of death
Vynen near Xanten, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 30 15

Immediate family

Members
William Young (father)
Flether M. Young (mother)
Ruth Young (sister)
Jack L. Young (brother)
William B. Young (brother)
Robert L. Young (brother)
Harry D. Young (brother)
Katheleen V. Young (sister)
Bill E. Young (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30087
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Shackrat
Destination: Münster, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad
MACR: 1026

More information

S/Sgt Smith J. Young was a carpenter.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky on 7 May 1941.

The plane was hit by flak and exploded.

Two crew members were taken prisoner, eight were killed. Except for Smith J. Young, they were initially buried in the special sector for British POW's of the cemetery of Münchengladbach on 16 October 1943. The body of S/Sgt Young was found in the water for the Waal River at Doornenburg on 11 October 1943. He was buried at the Doornenburg Cemetery in Bemmel, The Netherlands on 13 October 1943.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, 100thBombGroup, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, 100thBombGroup