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name
SOMERS, Raymond Horace - Date of
birth
29 January 1923 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
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 Heligoland, 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 U.S. Army Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 15 October 1942.The aircraft received a direct hit by flak while on its 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