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Personal info

Full name
MENG, Harold Ramsey
Date of birth
6 April 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Wisconsin
Hometown
Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Military service

Service number
O-702472
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
853rd Bombardment Squadron,
491st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 June 1944
Place of death
English Channel

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
George H. Meng (father)
Mabel C. Meng (mother)
Roger A. Meng (brother)
Emile Meng (grandmother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95191
Data
Type: B-24 H
Destination: Fleury, France
MACR: 8232

More information

Personal Statement:
After our A/C had been struck by flak, I went from the flight deck into the passage to the Navigator-Bombardier compartment. I found Lt Meng and Lt Tweed lying in the passageway. Lt Meng appeared to be dead. Lt Tweed was alive and conscious but was pinned to a portion of the airplane. The nose wheel doors had been blown open by the concussion of the flak blast and Lt Meng was lying across the opening with his head towards the front of the airplane. As I attempted to lift him away from the opening, the lower portion of his body fell thru the opening and was caught in the slip-stream. I tried to hold him in the airplane but was unable to do so. To the best of my knowledge and belief, Lt Meng was dead when he fell out of the airplane.
T/Sgt Leon J Boersma Jr.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, MACR

Photo source: Peter Schouteten