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Personal info

Full name
SOMERS, Raymond Horace
Date of birth
29 January 1923
Age
22
Place of birth
Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
O-723833
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
701st Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
20 March 1945
Place of death
3 miles east of Helgoland, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
John T. Somers (father)
Marion B. Somers (mother)
Joseph H. Somers (brother)
Ruth A. Somers (sister)
Helma R. Somers (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
44-48851
Data
Type: B-24-JSH
Destination: Hemmingstadt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heide oil refinery
MACR: 13563

More information

1st Lt Raymond H. Somers joined the Air Corps of the US Army Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 15 October 1942. He attended college for 2 years.

The aircraft received a direct hit by flak while on his bomb run. The right wing came off and a large hole was observed in the left wing. The ship then blew up as it crashed into the water.

The entire crew is listed on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Wehmacht - Awards.com Forum - Tino, Arie-Jan van Hees - Bomb 44-06 Midland AAF Texas