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Personal info

Full name
GILROY, James Sherwood
Date of birth
27 April 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan
Hometown
Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
36457707
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Gunner
Unit
495th Bombardment Squadron,
344th Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 February 1945
Place of death
In the vicinity of Viersen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
M 14 2

Immediate family

Members
James L. Gilroy (father)
Mary M. (Kelly) Gilroy (mother)
Frances gilroy (sister)
Edna M. Gilroy (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107698
Data
Type: B-26C-45
Destination: Viersen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a communication center
MACR: 12612

More information

James Gilroy enlisted in Kalamazoo, Michigan on 22 March 1943.

The aircraft was hit by flak in the right wing while on the bomb run in the target area. The right wing had been completely shot off. The aircraft flipped over and went down in a spin and was out of control. All six crew members were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com,

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Richard Mullally