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name
MAXAM, Ellwood Calvin - Date of
birth
24 July 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Akron, Summit County, Ohio -
Hometown
Akron, Summit County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15130213 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
551st Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 October 1944 - Place of
death
3 km south of Senzke, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 42 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Glennwood E. Maxam (father)
Nettie O. Maxam (mother)
Melvin Maxam (brother)
Ira Maxam (brother)
Christine Maxam (sister)
Aletha M. Maxam (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8143 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 9516
More information
Ellwood Maxam worked in a machine shop.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Cleveland, Ohio on 21 April 1942.
At 1207 hours, at the I.P., enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group strength to 2 B-17s (which two is undetermined). The fighters then returned and in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. Attacks were very aggressive and sudden.
No exact information of the attack is available because no B-17 of the Group concerned returned.
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Senzke, Germany on 9 October 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten