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Personal info

Full name
BAXTER, John R
Date of birth
1924
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Illinois
Hometown
Knox County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
O2065128
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 February 1945
Place of death
Deutsch-Wagram, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
C 18 71

Plane data

Serial number
44-49418
Data
Type: B-24L
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the refineries
MACR: 12089

More information

2nd Lt John R. Baxter joined the Regular Army at Camp Grant, Illinois on 12 March 1943.

Capt Robert E. Smith:

The subject ship received a direct flak hit in the bomb bays, causing them to burst into flame immediately. The aircraft passed beneath our bomb bays and appeared to be completely out of control. The ship was aflame form the forward bomb bays to the tail of the ship. On the tight side of our ship, their left wing tore loose. The ship then disintegrated and no parachutes were seen to emerge from the aircraft.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.45.html
Photo source: -