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name
GORMLEY, Raymond Joseph - Date of
birth
23 October 1918 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Washington, District of Columbia -
Hometown
Washington, District of Columbia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-797516 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
351st Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 October 1943 - Place of
death
Near Bellingwolde, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 18 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles E. Gormley (father)
Nellie (Connolly) Gormley (mother)
Mable C. Gormley (sister)
Charles J. Gormley (brother)
Helena M. (Brodt) Gormley (wife)
Michael B. Gormley (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3386 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Marie Helena
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Deschimag U-boat yards
MACR: 949
More information
1st Lt Raymond J. Gormley graduated from Gonzaga High School. He also graduated from Columbus Law School in 1942 and was employed at National Bank of Washington.He enlisted in May 1942 at Bolling Field, Anacostia, District of Columbia
The airplane was rammed by a FW-190 flown by Oblt Erich Hondt. Both aircraft went down and disintegrated in mid-air, the wreckage falling over a wide area near Bellingwolde, 28 miles east of Groningen, The Netherlands at 15.30 hours.
The entire crew of ten was killed. Most of the bodies were burnt to the third degree.
Lt Gormley, Lt Fox, T/Sgt Von Seggern, T/Sgt Mc Phee and S/Sgt Presley were buried in the protestant churchyard of Bellingwolde. Lt Motta, Lt Heath, S/Sgt Hilton, S/Sgt Avery Jr. and S/Sgt Rife were buried on 18 October 1943 in the nearby Lutheran cemetery of Leer, Germany, S/Sgt Presle's body was found a week later in a canal.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.100thbg.com, National WWII Memorial, National Archives, Footnote, www.ancestry.com Maurer-Olah Family Tree / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.100thbg.com