Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
GANDY, Guy Earl - Date of
birth
5 July 1916 -
Age
26 -
Place of birth
Wilson, Carter County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Wynnewood, Garvin County, Oklahoma -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18085234 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Assistant Engineer/Waist Gunner -
Unit
67th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
22 March 1943 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Alte Mellum Island, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Lee Gandy (father)
Texie V. Gandy (mother)
Ruby Gandy (sister)
Owen C. Gandy (brother)
George W. Gandy (brother)
Leroy Gandy (brother)
Travis R. Gandy (brother)
Ernestine Gandy (sister)
Earnest G. Gandy (brother)
Jocie L. Gandy (sister)
Bonnie Gandy (sister)
Bill M. Gandy (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-23832 -
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Maggie
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 15585
More information
T/Sgt Guy E. Gandy worked at the Healdton oil field, spent 18 months on a ranch in California and worked with his uncle in a trucking business.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 20 January 1942.
According to crew members of other airplane in the group, the aircraft was badly damaged by enemy fighters. All crew members bailed out about 10 minutes away from the target area into the North Sea. Some of them landed on Alte Mellum Island. Other landed in the water south of the island. As these parachutes were descending, two enemy aircraft were seen making two attacks each on the parachutes.
Statement of the Navigator, Lt Robert J. Walker, who survived the mission:
"We were coming home from Wilhelmshaven when the ship was badly shot up by German fighters. Shortly after several attacks on us, the ship was shot up so badly that we all had to bail out, in spite of the fact that we were out a bit over the North Sea. We all came down in the vicinity of Alte Mellum island, but into the water. Sgt Klug and I were the first two picked up by a ship headed for Helgoland - and we were the only survivors. Apparently all others drowned, or died from exposure in that frigid water before rescuers found them."
Eight crew members were killed, two men survived and were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Cards, 1920,1930 US Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Daily Oklahoman - 15 August 1943