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name
BALL, Edwin Cameron - Date of
birth
7 July 1919 -
Age
25 -
Place of birth
Weippe, Clearwater County, Idaho -
Hometown
Weippe, Clearwater County, Idaho
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-798233 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
505th Fighter Squadron,
339th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 August 1944 - Place of
death
Roeselare, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 4 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edmund J. Ball (father)
Ella M. (Snyder) Ball (mother)
Dorothy Ball (sister)
Freida J. (Beatty) Ball (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-106937 -
Data
Type: P-51B
Destination: Bauvais, France
Mission: Strafe and Escort
MACR: 7438
More information
Edwin Ball joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Stevens, Oregon, on 16 May 1941.He was married to Freida Jane Beatty on 17 February 1943.
Statement of 1st Lt George Knight, who flew in the same mission: "On the 8 August 1944, at approximately 1500 hours, while on a operational mission over France, our flight went down to strafe a train. I saw several bursts of flak around Lt Balls' aircraft. He peeled away from the flak down toward the train. About halfway down, I saw white smoke pouring from the side of his plane. He pulled up sharply to about 1,000-1,500 ft and bailed out; the plane crashed in the town of Roeselare. I didn't see the parachute open."
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees / 1930 census, History of the 339th FG
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Lewiston Morning Tribune 2 September 1944