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Personal info

Full name
FRENCH, Harold Gregory
Date of birth
21 August 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Fine, St. Lawrence County, New York
Hometown
Russell, St. Lawrence County, New York

Military service

Service number
O-707258
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
340th Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 July 1944
Place of death
Komárom, Hungary

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
E 9 32

Immediate family

Members
Raymond J. French (father)
Marjory N. (Barry) French (mother)
Leon J. French (brother)
Jeanette E. French (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5946
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Brod, Yugoslavia
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 6617

More information

S/Sgt Alfano J. Beetzinger:
"I was flying as tail gunner in ship 914, which was leading the second element with ship 946 on our left wing. We were attacking by fighters. 946 dropped back at about 2,500 yards distance from us, with its position low at five o’clock. Fighters kept up their attack. I saw four chutes open, although the plane seemed under perfect control except with a gradual loss of altitude. That was last I observed of ship 946."

S/Sgt Rudolph Oswald:
"He was probably killed by Hungarian civilians."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Marlea Hughes Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Anne Cady, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jul.44.html
Photo source: www.ancestry.com – Lauren French