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name
PERSON, Walter G - Date of
birth
unknown -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
unknown -
Hometown
Nansemond County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
7023708 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
347th Bombardment Squadron,
99th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
18 December 1944 - Place of
death
Near Brünn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 3 | 22 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Elsie M. Person (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-32097 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Slipstream
Destination: Odertal, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refineries
MACR: 10635
More information
S/Sgt Walter G. Person joined the Regular Army on 7 May 1940.Sgt Paul E. Brenneman:
"The last I remember of seeing plane #32097 was before and right after the target. After leaving the target, plane #32097 pulled to altitude, approximately 500 feet above formation and approximately 500 feet to the left. After dropping their bombs, they closed their bomb bay doors about one third of the way and seemed to lose altitude and drift away from the formation. The last I saw of plane #32097 was when it was flying along just above the clouds, apparently O.K. We were jumped by fighters at this time and I lost track of it. I do know, however, that a B-17 which might possibly have been #32097, as it was straggling behind the formation, was hit by fighters and exploded in the air behind us. It was too far away for me to know whether it was plane #32097 or not".
2nd Lt Ward S. Randolph:
"To my knowledge he was dead when I bailed out".
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Dec.44.html
Photo source: -