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name
MILLER, Earl John Jr - Date of
birth
10 June 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Upper Merion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13080274 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
20th Bombardment Squadron,
2nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 April 1944 - Place of
death
Pápa, Hungary
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 30 | 31 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Earl J. Miller (father)
Emma M. (Garnett) Miller (mother)
Theodore R. Miller (brother)
William G. Miller (brother)
Richard H. Miller (brother)
Merritt A. Miller (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31837 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Gyor, Hungary
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft plant and depot
MACR: 3916
More information
S/Sgt Earl J. Miller Jr. attended college before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 3 June 1942.T/Sgt Frederick B. Crutchfield, tail gunner of another B-17 in the group, witnesses what happened: "Just over the target, fighters attacked plane no. 42-31837, from 5 to 7 o’clock. This plane started smoking and a minute later started going down slowly under apparently good control. At this time the parachutes started to come out, the first parachute opened o.k., second and third parachute both on fire. The fourth and fifth parachute opened o.k. then the plane went into a steep dive and started spinning into a steep dive, after the ship had fallen about 17 or 18 thousand feet another parachute opened alright. The plane crashed a few seconds later, into the ground."
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed.
According to a surviving crew member, 1st Lt Eimer F. Gray, S/Sgt Miller was killed during enemy attacks and was shot through the head.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Miller Family Tree / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – D Mllr, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Apr.44.html
Photo source: www.ancestry.com – Lesley Miller