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Submit- Full
name
COLE, Morris Irby Jr - Date of
birth
14 December 1916 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Nottoway, Nottoway County, Virginia -
Hometown
Henrico County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13033045 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
20 October 1943 - Place of
death
Between the roads Overbroekseweg and Horsterweg
Leunen, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 5 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Morris I. Cole (father)
Edna O. (Chumney) Cole (mother)
Ashton L. Cole (brother)
Edna L. Cole (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3130 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Nip’n Tuck II
Destination: Düren, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railway complex and aviation industry
MACR: 902
More information
S/Sgt Morris I. Cole was an insurance salesman.He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Richmond, Virginia on 27 October 1941.
On the return flight, the airplane was attacked by enemy fighters. It was so badly hit it exploded in mid-air. Debris were scattered across a wide area.
Eight crew members were kiled and initially buried at the military cemetery of Venlo. Ttwo crew members survived and were taken prisoner.
In 2014 a local research team, the Planehunters Recovery Team, found parts of the airplane in the vicinity of the crash. It was decided to erect a monument at the Hoogriebroekseweg in honor of the crew.
S/Sgt Cole is buried next to his brother Ashton.
Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, Herman Wolters, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930/1940 Census / Virginia Birth Records 1964-2014, www.fold3.com - MACR 902, http://8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery, www.facebook.com/usabmc