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Personal info

Full name
ELLIOTT, Eugene Leo
Date of birth
22 March 1925
Age
20
Place of birth
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
Hometown
Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut

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