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name
BYRD, Olen Charles - Date of
birth
16 January 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Texas -
Hometown
Sunset, Montague County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38118508 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
702nd Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
27 September 1944 - Place of
death
Gerstungen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 23 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ben J. Byrd (father)
Hester C. Byrd (mother)
Amos A Byrd (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50383 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: King Kong
Destination: Kassel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Henschel & Son aviation industry
MACR: 9390
More information
Olen Byrd worked in the beverage industry.He enlisted in Dallas, Texas on 10 July 1942.
100 to 150 enemy aircraft attacked the formation from 6 o'clock. They came in about 10 to 15 abreast and there were about six rows. B-24's were going down all around and it was impossible to state which was which. Many parachutes were seen in the area. Many of the planes were seen going down in flames.
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four men were killed.
S/Sgt Byrd was initially buried at the military cemetery of Lauchröden on 1 October 1944. On 17 November 1947, his remains were disinterred and marked as Unknown X-6955 because identification at that moment was not possible. After investigation and comparison with tooth charts at Ardennes Cemetery, his remains were identified.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, MACR, IDPF
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Anthony Destro