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Personal info

Full name
FORYS, Edward W
Date of birth
17 September 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Rhode Island
Hometown
Providence County, Rhode Island

Military service

Service number
11110502
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
32nd Bombardment Squadron,
301st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
26 July 1944
Place of death
Sankt Jakob im Walde, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
E 15 29

Immediate family

Members
Walter Forys (father)
Anna Forys (mother)
Emella Forys (sister)
John Forys (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3157
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Laura
Destination: Wiener Neudorf, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 7138

More information

S/Sgt Edward W. Forys volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Providence, Rhode Island on 13 October 1942.

S/Sgt Albert F. Bernard:
I was flying as Ball Turret Gunner on aircraft #44-6180. I first noticed 157 when it passed over us on fire. It appeared if the Pilot pulled it to one side to spare other chips in the formation. 157 was to the rear of us at five o’clock when it move straight down, spinning as it went down. It pulled out for a moment then continued to dive. When it was about a 1000 yards below us, it blew up. One chute was seen to open, it is not probable that any other crew member escaped. It appeared as if the explosion opened the chute.

T/Sgt William W. Brainard:
He did not have time to bail out.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Rhode Island State Census / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Patootie, http://www.301bg.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jul.44.html
Photo source: -