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Personal info

Full name
WYNN, Orian Thomas
Date of birth
20 September 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Farmington, San Juan County, New Mexico
Hometown
Montezuma, Summit County, Colorado

Military service

Service number
O-677000
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
419th Bombardment Squadron,
301st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 April 1944
Place of death
Grossraming, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
B 13 62

Immediate family

Members
Raymond C. Wynn (father)
Anallene Wynn (mother)
Thelma L. Wynn (sister)
Fay L. Wynn (sister)
Edith M. Wynn (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31639
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Steyr, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the ball bearing plant
MACR: 3707

More information

2nd Lt Orian T. Wynn graduated from Framington High School and attended Fort Lewis College for two years.

He was a social and welfare worker before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Santa Fe, New Mexico on 14 April 1942. He trained at Kelly Field, Ellington Field and Big Springs.

Statement of S/Sgt John E. Stuart, a crew member of another B-17 in the group: "I was flying tail gunner of the plane in 1-2 position of the High Flight Squadron. I saw the reserve plane of the second element A/C # 42-31639 move into the 2-1 position. Shortly thereafter the plane was attacked by an ME 109, which came in from about ten o'clock. It was hit near #1 engine in left wing and as it slid away, the B-17 turned on its back. I saw no parachutes come from the plane, then lost sight of it."

Three crew members were killed, seven men survived and were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / April Hanson Family Tree / New Mexico World War II Records, www.findagrave.com – Eric Ackerman, http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/5754, http://www.axpow.org/bios/joneswtemp.htm, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Apr.44.htmln Biographical Questionnaire ofr New Mexicans in the Armed Forces - Museum of New Mexico
Photo source: www.ancestry.com – April Maher New Mexico WWII Record, www.newspapers.com – Albuquerque Journal New Mexico 27 April 1944