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Submit- Full
name
FREEMAN, Dale Russell - Date of
birth
7 October 1925 -
Age
19 -
Place of birth
Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana -
Hometown
Guthrie, Lawrence County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35811567 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Assistant Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
416th Bombardment Squadron,
99th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 February 1945 - Place of
death
Mitterlobming, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 36 | 22 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clyde W. Freeman (father)
Emma G. (Bennett) Freeman (mother)
Helen R. Freeman (sister)
Robert B. Freeman (brother)
Kenneth R. Freeman (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6691 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Graz, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 12083
More information
Sgt Dale R. Freeman enlisted in Louisville, Kentucky on 11 December 1943.S/Sgt Edward J. Balog:
"On 8 February 1945, I was flying toggalier on ship #673, Piloted by Lt Clark. Our ship was flying left wing to second element lead. Over target area, while making a 360 degree turn, two hips in the second group in front of ours, were seen to collide with each other. One ship went into a flat spin and I saw a large gouge in its wing. The other ship had its tail completely torn off, and I saw it go down in a steep glide. I saw one chute and then another body appeared just before one of the ships disappeared into the clouds. Whether this chute opened or not, I do not know."
Sgt Hulon A. Brown:
"He didn’t 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 / Edelstein Matts Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.45.html
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy, Susan Neal and Cinda Smith (nieces) - courtesy of Kathy McDermott