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name
CHAPPELL, Louis Clare - Date of
birth
27 March 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Kalamazoo County, Michigan -
Hometown
Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-2064216 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
350th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 February 1945 - Place of
death
Berlin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Ernest B. Lindsay (stepfather)
Pearl Lindsay (mother)
Marjorie L. Chappell (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8379 -
Data
Type: B-17 G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Tempelhof railroad marshalling yard
MACR: 12046
More information
1st Lt Louis C. Chappell was a welder before he enlisted in Kalamazoo, Michigan on 1 April 1943.Eyewitness Statement:
"A/C 44-8379 was hit by flak, reported to have been a groud rocket, a few seconds before bombs away. A/C continued on bomb run and dropped bombs. Fire producing a dense white smoke was seen to break out in the fuselage and bomb bay, including the cockpit. The bomb bay doors were closed and then reopened. Pilot opened his window and peeled gently off to the right, directing the deputy leader to take over lead on VHF. A/C headed NE and flew level for a few moments while six members of the crew bailed out. Three men appeared to come from the waist or tail, while the other three came through the bomb bay. There was a small explosion in #3 engine nacelle and the A/C headed down, burning and beginning to spin when last seen at 15,000 feet. Observers believe entire crew had an excellent chance to bail out."
Nine crew members were taken prisoner, two were killed.
Lt Chappell was killed in the plane.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA, Missing Aircrew Report 12046
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Mlive.com - Vanishing Kalamazoo - Chelsea Purghan, Western State Teachers College 1937