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Personal info

Full name
BROWN, Virgil Darrah
Date of birth
23 April 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Vermont, Fulton County, Illinois
Hometown
Bernadotte, Fulton County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
36074292
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer
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
A 30 15

Immediate family

Members
Darrah Brown (father)
William M Littleton (stepfather)
Edith M Brown (mother)
Melvin Brown (brother)
Doris Littleton (halfsister)

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

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.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census, www.fold3.com, www.384thbombgroup.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com