Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
SOLOMON, Melvin Julius - Date of
birth
17 March 1924 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Bedias, Grimes County, Texas -
Hometown
Montgomery County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38540343 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
704th Bombardment Squadron,
446th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Near Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | 23 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lee Solomon (father)
Effie L. (Ellington) Solomon (mother)
Monroe Solomon (brother)
Aubrey Solomon (brother)
Willard Solomon (brother)
Marie Solomon (sister)
Everett Solomon (brother)
Mary L. Solomon (sister)
Daniel Solomon (brother)
Nolan Solomon (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
T/Sgt Melvin J. Solomon graduated from Conroe High School.He enlisted on 28 June 1943 at Houston, Texas.
The group dropped supplies to British ground troops crossing the Rhine river 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.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, Janice Ramirez-Solomon (niece), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, "The History of the 446th BG" (Harold Jansen), Arie-Jan van Hees.