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Personal info

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

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