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name
WETHERBEE, Raymond - Date of
birth
15 October 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut -
Hometown
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31168190 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Nose Gunner -
Unit
525th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 February 1945 - Place of
death
Jevenstedt near Rendsburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 13 | 35 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Winfield W. Wetherbee (father)
Helen C. (Hegel) Wetherbee (mother)
Winfield H. Wetherbee (brother)
Russell A. Wetherbee (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97678 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Birmingham Jewel
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a marshalling yard
MACR: 12217
More information
Raymond Wetherbee was employed at the Ano Engineering Corp.He enlisted in Hartford, Connecticut on 12 August 1942.
This was his 33rd mission.
The aircraft was hit by flak and aborted the formation. Because it could not maintain altitude, the pilot decided to turn back.
It was attacked by enemy fighters in the vicinity of Jevenstedt. On the first pass they enemy aircraft scored hits which put out of action one engine and set the bomb bay in fire. This fire got out of control and swept back toward the waist and exploded in mid-air.
Five crew members were taken prisoner. Four men were killed and were initially buried at the cemetery of Neumünster, Germany.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, ABMC, National Archives, National Archives, FindAGrave, MACR/Footnote
Photo source: Koen Swennen, www.ancestry.com - Laura Sullivan