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name
TOWLE, Edward - Date of
birth
1921 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
New Jersey -
Hometown
Queens, Queens County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12026280 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
366th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 May 1944 - Place of
death
Baltic Sea, off the coast of Sassnitz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 10 | 36 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur R. Towle (father)
Sadie G. (Fowler) Towle (mother)
Arthur Towle (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-38176 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Our Baby
Destination: Cottbus, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke-Wulf aviation industry
MACR: 5337
More information
S/Sgt Edward Towle attended high school for three years.He volunteered for the Army Air Corps on 19 February 1941 in New York City, New York.
The aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters just after the target. It kept in the formation until 14.22 hours, at 5455N-1330E, where ten parachutes were seen to come out. Immediately after, the aircraft went out of control, lost altitude, and hit the water, and exploded. All ten parachutes landed in the water close to land and several boats were seen nearby. Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, eight men were killed. The deceased men that could be recovered were buried at the New Cemetery of Wiek on Rügen Island on 30 May 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, 1930 US Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten