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Submit- Full
name
MILLER, Arthur William Jr - Date of
birth
21 July 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio -
Hometown
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35933713 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 January 1945 - Place of
death
Beigerhaard Forest, south of Wincrange, Luxembourg
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 6 | 42 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur W. Miller (father)
Ella Miller (mother)
Rita Miller (sister)
Eillen Miller (sister)
Richard Miller (brother)
Norman Miller (brother)
Gloria M. (Cameron) Miller (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38911 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Bull Session
Destination: Koln, Germany
Mission: Bombing of highway bridges
MACR: 11772
More information
Sgt Arthur W. Miller, Jr. graduated from West Technical High School in 1943.He enlisted at Fort Hayes Columbus, Ohio on 5 October 1943.
Below are some eyewitness statements of crew members of other B-17's in the same group.
1st Lt Thomas F Fleming:
We were flying over the front lines at approximately 20000 feet when I observed B-17-G, 43-38911 to receive a direct hit by flak on the nose section. The nose section back to number 6 bulk-head was blown off and the aircraft nosed downward, definitely out of control, but no smoke or flames were visable. I was flying as Co-Pilot and lost sight of subject aircraft at this time. The ball turret-gunner of my crew reported that he had watched the plane until it crashed into the ground. We saw no men leave the aircraft or parachutes open.
S/Sgt Elo O Meisetschlaeger:
We were flying over the front lines on the way to the target, altitude approximately 20000 feet, when I observed aircraft B-17-G, 43-38911, to receive a direct hit by flak on the nose section. The nose section was blown off back as far as the pilot's compartment. The aircraft immediately went out of control and nosed downward in a vertical dive. No smoke or flames were visable. The aircraft had dropped about 10000 feet when it passed from my view. I saw no crew members leave the aircraft or parachutes open.
Sgt Elmor B Russel:
I was flying as Tail-Gunner of our ship and aircraft B-17-G, 43-8911, was flying just below my position. I first noticed that subject aircraft was in trouble as it was going down in a dive. At this time it was approximately 1000 feet below us. I than lost sight of the aircraft, but as I looked out in back of where I last saw it, I observed one parachute floating in the air. I saw no other crew members leave the aircraft or parachutes open.
Eight crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner.
Sgt Arthur W. Miller, Jr. was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Foy, Belgium.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, Missing Aircrew Report 11772, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Records / 1940 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Patti Johnson, West Technical High School - 1943