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name
COLE, Le Roy M - Date of
birth
1918 -
Age
unknown -
Place of birth
Tennessee -
Hometown
Knox County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
14132291 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
391st Bombardment Squadron,
34th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
31 December 1944 - Place of
death
3,5 km northnorthwest of Tossener Deich, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| O | 17 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Prentiss F. Cole (father)
Lillie L. Cole (mother)
Glenden Cole (brother)
Jack Cole (brother)
Albert Cole (brother)
Lenard Cole (brother)
Barbara Cole (sister)
Evelyn (Needham) Cole (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38423 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Misburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 11372
More information
Leroy M. Cole attended high school for four years and was an insurance salesman.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Knoxville, Tennessee on 17 August 1942.
The aircraft received a direct flak hit and left the formation, jettisoning his bombs, Number 1 & 2 propellers were feathered and #2 engine was on fire. Fire was also observed coming from the open bomb bay doors. It was last seen in a left hand spiral at 10,000 feet.
Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner, three men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Langwarden on 4 January 1945.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, https://etvma.org, The Knoxville Journal - 30 October 1945