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name
ERWIN, Eldon Eugene - Date of
birth
17 January 1921 -
Age
23 -
Place of birth
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas -
Hometown
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-664385 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
391st Bombardment Squadron,
34th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 August 1944 - Place of
death
Malmedy, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 13 | 31 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Landis P. Erwin (father)
Pearl (Wood) Erwin (mother)
Rosemarie (Sellers) Erwin (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-40323 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Sunshine Rose
MACR: 7877
More information
Capt Eldon Erwin attended the University of Texas.He was married to Rosemarie Sellers on 18 Janaury 1942 in Austin, Texas.
The airplane was hit by flak in the bomb bay, causing a fire. It immediately pulled out of the formation and started to glide, leveled, started to climb and then enterred another glide as if it stalled. When it was last seen by crew members of others B-24's in the group, it seemed to be under control.
Four crew members were killed, four were taken prisoner and one evaded capture.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Siem Voogt, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 42-H Garner Fd Texas, www.ancestry.com