Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MC CUTCHEN, Doyle Cash - Date of
birth
17 September 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Western Grove, Newton County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39542283 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 December 1943 - Place of
death
In the Lek river close to the shore on the other side of the shipyard.
The Lek River between Nieuw-Lekkerland and Streefkerk, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 3 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Alexander J. McCutchen (father)
Ona B. (Cash) McCutchen (mother)
Ardelia McCutchen (sister)
Roy C. McCutchen (brother)
Lola C. McCutchen (wife)
Patricia McCutchen (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31097 -
Data
Type: B-17 G
Nickname: Mission Belle
Destination: Leverkusen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of IG Farben factories
MACR: 1661
More information
Sgt Doyle C Mc Cutchen enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 4 November 1942.The plane's controls were shot away and as they were on the deck they did not have enough altitude.
The bomber made an emergency landing on the Lek river after a fight with German fighters. Seven crew members could escape the sinking bomber.
Everyone was still in the plane when they ditched. Everyone had been wounded with the exception of the co-pilot. Seven crew members survided and were taken prisoner, three were killed.
Sgt Doyle was killed by machine gun fire of the attacking fighters. His body was found in the river on 30 May 1944.
This was his second mission.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, MACR, http://hazy.home.xs4all.nl/MissionBelle.html
Photo source: Rob van den Berg, Arie-Jan van Hees