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name
SOLEAU, Raymond H - Date of
birth
11 January 1922 -
Age
23 -
Place of birth
Ohio -
Hometown
Monroe County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-830565 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
55th Fighter Squadron,
20th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 February 1945 - Place of
death
Stendal area, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 3 | 42 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Benjamin M. Soleau (father)
Martha B. (Sanglier) Soleau (mother)
Benjamin J. Soleau (brother)
Donald R. Soleau (brother)
Ralph F. Soleau (brother)
Theresa Soleau (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-11197 -
Data
Nickname: Jakes' Jet Jog
Type: P-51 D
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Strafing
MACR: 12742
More information
1st Lt Raymond H. Soleau was a lineman.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Detroit, Michigan, on 1 October 1942.
Lt Soleau was flying Lt Seifert's wing. In the Stendal area, Lt Seifert bounced a FW 190. Just prior to the actual combat was the last time Lt Seifert saw Lt Soleau. After breaking combat, he searched for Lt Soleau, but could not locate him. He became engaged with 3 more FW 190s, and during this engagement, he heard Lt Soleau call Nuthouse. Lt Soleau said, "I may have to set this ship down." A few minutes later, he again called Nuthouse, but could not raise him. That was the last contact with Lt Soleau. Lt Seifert could not get through the R/T conversation to contact him. This was at 1020 hours.
Lt Soleau flew 63 missions.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, MACR 12742, 20th Fighter Group, www.n8elq.com/heros.html, www.findagrave.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com