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Personal info

Full name
LINKLETTER, George Benjamin
Date of birth
29 December 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
New Burgh, Orange County, New York
Hometown
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia

Military service

Service number
33539866
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
702nd Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
27 September 1944
Place of death
Ulfen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 3 3

Immediate family

Members
Casper Linkletter (father)
Lucy (Terwilliger) Linkletter (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-50324
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Eileen
Destination: Kassel, GermanyMission: Bombing of the Henschel & Son aircraft plant
MACR: 9388

More information

S/Sgt George B. Linkletter enlisted in Charlotsville, Virginia on 29 January 1943. He attended high school for 2 years and worked as an attendant at a filling station before he enlisted.

Statement of Capt Andres Grove:
'100 to 150 enemy aircraft attacked our formation from 6 o'clock. They came in about 10 to 15 abreast and there were about 6 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.'

The co-pilot, 2nd Lt Walter George believed he was killed on the ground by civilians. He heared much small arms fire and many shouts and cries.

S/Sgt George B. Linkletter was first buried at the cemetery of Ulfen the same day.

He is remembered with a memorial at the Fantinekill Cemetery in Ellenville, New York.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Tracy Briggs / High school Yearbook 1942