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name
ELLIOTT, Eugene Leo - Date of
birth
22 March 1925 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut -
Hometown
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31378866 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
506th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
2.5 miles northwest of Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 7 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Leo G. Elliott (father)
Marie A. Elliott (mother)
Harry G. Elliott (brother)
Helen Elliott (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50896 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Southern Comfort IV
Destination: Wesel, Germany
Mission: Low-Level supply drop
MACR: 13600
More information
Sgt. Eugene L. Elliott graduated from Weaver High School where he was a business manager of the class yearbook.He enlisted on 28 July 1943.
The MACR states that, “This aircraft was flying as number three in second squadron of a force re-supplying paratroopers, at very low altitude, in an area over 2 miles west-northwest of Wesel. At 1314 hours, this aircraft was observed to lose control momentarily. It struck the ground and came back up to about 100 feet, under control. It flew along for about 90 seconds, then the right wing dipped and struck the ground, causing it to pinwheel and hit the ground again. It disintegrated as it started to burn.” Sgt Richard V. Lynch stated, “I was flying nose gunner on Lt Lee’s aircraft, I-Bar 193. We were flying at approximately 300 feet and dropped our supplies at 1314 hours. Immediately after this, I noticed number four engine on R-Bar 896, Lt Chandler’s ship, begin to smoke and then noticed the plane hit the ground with its belly and bottom part of the rudders, then bounce up into the air and maintain level, controlled flight at approximately 100 feet – for about a minute and a half.“ The plane, then apparently out of control, banked sharply to the right with the right wing hitting the ground and continued to revolve to the right in a clockwise direction, pivoting on the right wing tip and ending up skidding along on its belly, 180 degrees to our path of flight. The plane started to burn immediately as it hit the ground, and I was unable to determine whether or not there were any survivors."
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, Roger Fenton - VP/Historian 44th BGVA, www.ancestry.com Family Trees, 1930 Census, Hartford Courant of 7 August 1945, www.fold3.com - WWII Draft Registration Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Hartford Courant of 7 August 1945