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Personal info

Full name
GRAFF, Andrew C
Date of birth
10 September 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Iowa
Hometown
Geneva, Franklin County, Iowa

Military service

Service number
37428100
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
506th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 April 1944
Place of death
2 Km North of Bernburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 36 54

Immediate family

Members
Andrew Graff (father)
Kloetzer Graff (mother)
Dorethy Graff (sister)
Minnie Graff (sister)
Bertha Graff (sister)
John Graff (brother)
Freda Graff (sister)
Helen Graff (sister)
Andrew Graff (brother)
Martha Graff (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-7522
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Southern Comfort II
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
Mission: Bombardment
MACR: 3848

More information

The MACR states that this aircraft went down at 11:23 hours. The right bomb bay doors failed to open, so when the bombs were dropped, the right side fragmentation bombs hit the closed doors,immediately setting that area on fire. The ship flew on for awhile, then winged over, breaking in two at the waist section. It went down and exploded. Four bodies came clear of the falling wreckage, but only two chutes were seen to open.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, Roger Fenton of the 44th Bomb Group Veterens Association, www.ancestry.com Terri Kay Meyer Family Tree / 1920 Census, www.wwiimemorial.com

Photo source: Jac Engels