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Personal info

Full name
GRANTHAM, Edgar H "Eddie"
Date of birth
16 February 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York

Military service

Service number
O-824132
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
545th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 September 1944
Place of death
Zechau near Altenburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 7 48

Immediate family

Members
Edgar H. Grantham (father)
Nita A. (Cann) Grantham (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107058
Data
Nickname: White Angel
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 8903

More information

2nd Lt Edgar H. Grantham graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1939 and attended college.

He was an electrician before he joined the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Miami Beach, Florida on 1 February 1943.

The airplane received a direct hit by flak in the bomb bay. The bombs were immediately released, and the aircraft caught fire. It dived to 18,000 feet, leveled off, and was lost out of sight.

Two crew members were taken prisoner, and seven men were killed.

This was his second mission.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - 1940 census, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Jac Engels, David Hastie, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-B, George Field, Illinois, Brooklyn Technical High School, 1939