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Personal info

Full name
CUNNINGHAM, Frank Robert
Date of birth
22 November 1914
Age
29
Place of birth
McDonald, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
McDonald, Washington County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33286504
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
337th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
16 December 1943
Place of death
Between Rauwerd and Poppingawier, 9 miles southwest of Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
F 21 26

Immediate family

Members
Frank W. Cunningham (father)
Susanah (Lewis) Cunningham (mother)
Susanna Cunningham (sister)
William B. Cunningham (brother)
Giulia E. Cunningham (sister)
Charles W. Cunningham (brother)
Mary D. Cunningham (sister)
Charlotte J. Cunningham (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31086
Data
Type: B-17 G
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1567

More information

S/Sgt Frank R. Cunningham was a metal worker.

He enlisted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 31 July 1942.

The airplane was shot down by a FW 190A of JG 1/1 and may have collided with B-17 #42-37739. The entire crew of both planes (20 men in total) were killed and were initially buried at the cemetery of Poppingawier on 21 or 31 December 1943.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, IDPF

Photo source: Ron Raaijmakers