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Personal info

Full name
CHEEK, Earle Clifford
Date of birth
11 June 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Springfield, Greene County, Missouri
Hometown
Elkland, Missouri

Military service

Service number
O-692295
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
704th Bombardment Squadron,
446th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 March 1945
Place of death
Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 21 4

Immediate family

Members
Cassius F. Cheek (father)
Emma M. (Pelts) Cheek (mother)
Maurice E. Cheek (brother)
Richard C. Cheek (brother)
Mildred P. Cheek (sister)
James Cheek (brother)
Joseph Cheek (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-50735
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Queen of Angels
Destination: Drop Zone B, Wesel, Germany
Mission: Supply drop
MACR: 14181

More information

The group dropped supplies to British ground troops on a low-level mission. Flying at 300 to 700 feet, the planes were met by small arms and light artillery fire and 3 were shot down. "Queen of Angels" (42-50735) went down, killing 8 crewmen with 1 more returning safely (Alan W. Keenen). #42-50735 was seen in target area with #3 engine on fire. 2 Crew members seen to bail out, only one chute opened. Aircraft burst into flames as it crashed in target area at 1326 hours at 300 feet.

In 1946, the American Legion Creek-Ferguson-Cheek Post #19 was named in his honor.

Source of information: www.wwiimemorial.com, www.446bg.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, 1930 Census, family trees

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Laura Van Etten-Collins