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Personal info

Full name
HICKEY, Raymond William
Date of birth
1920
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Massachusetts
Hometown
Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
O-801463
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
827th Bombardment Squadron,
484th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 May 1944
Place of death
South of Graz, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
D 17 22

Immediate family

Members
William R. Hickey (father)
Marion J. Hickey (mother)
Helene M. (Harrigan) Hickey (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52677
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Hustlin Hussy
Destination: Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the industrial areas
MACR: 5785

More information

1st Lt Raymond W. Hickey joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Devens, Massachusetts on 14 May 1942.

2nd Lt Howard Higgins:
“A few seconds after bombs away number 42-52677 made a turn to the left and began to lose altitude. The airplane appeared to be under control and be followed in the turn until we observed a fire in the bomb bay. We then broke away from it and rejoined the formation to our right. Two minutes later while rejoining the formation, I saw a plane, presumably number 42-52677 on our right, behind and about 5,000 feet below us. Great quantities of smoke appeared to be coming out of the center of the ship, but it still appeared to be under control. At this time we saw four parachutes blossom out. The airplane then nosed over sharply and another parachute was seen to open. The plane then fell about 3,000 feet and blew up in midair.”

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Judith Harrigan Family Tree / 1930 Census / Massachusetts Birth Index, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/May.44.html
Photo source: -