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name
BYRNES, Hartwell Parker - Date of
birth
26 August 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Winterville, Washington County, Mississippi -
Hometown
Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34872984 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
854th Bombardment Squadron,
491st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 November 1944 - Place of
death
Near Stadthagen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 13 | 31 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Shelby J. Byrnes (father)
Margaret (Parker) Byrnes (mother)
Glory A. (Beauland) Byrnes (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-40271 -
Data
Type: B-24 J
Nickname: House of Rumor
Destination: Misburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
Macr: 10766
More information
Hartwell Byrnes attended Columbia Military Academy.The group was attacked by a large number of enemy fighters on the way to the target, with the loss of one-half of the aircraft.
According to Lt Sonntag, the bombardier who was one of the surviving crew members, S/Sgt Byrnes was checking the escape hatch and was badly wounded or killed by an explosion and was unable to leave the plane.
Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Four men were killed and were initially buried at the community cemetery of Meerbeck, near Stadthagen, Germany on 30 november 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, Rootsweb, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.myheritage.nl - The Delta Democrat-Times
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.myheritage.nl - The Delta Democrat-Times