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Submit- Full
name
DAVIS, Donald Eugene - Date of
birth
6 September 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Anna, Union County, Illinois -
Hometown
Anna, Union County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16075299 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
752nd Bombardment Squadron,
458th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 March 1944 - Place of
death
Alverskirchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 2 | 49 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ira G. Davis (father)
Iva (Wilkerson) Davis (mother)
Beatrice Davis (sister)
James Davis (brother)
John Davis (brother)
Lester E. Davis (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29329 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Fritzi
Destination: Osnabruck, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Achmer airbase
MACR: 3556
More information
Donald Davis worked in an automobile factory.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Peoria, Illinois on 16 October 1942.
During the bomb run, the group ran into heavy, accurate flak. A flak bursted under the open bomb bay which started a small fire that rapidly spread troughout the entire airplane. It flew on course for 45 seconds and then fell away. The tail twisted off first and then the airplane broke up completely on the way down.
All ten crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Alverskirchen, Germany the same day.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.458bg.com, Terry Hirsch, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census, MACR, IDPF
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.458bg.com