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Personal info

Full name
GARLAND, Ernest Pryor
Date of birth
9 May 1917
Age
25
Place of birth
Robinsonville, McLennan County, Texas
Hometown
McLennan County, Texas

Military service

Service number
06278073
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
368th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
4 March 1943
Place of death
North Sea, about 10 km west of Hoek van Holland, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
John Garland (father)
MaLevy (Gunter) Garland (mother)
Marion Garland (brother)
Dora Garland (sister)
Waylan Garland (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-25129
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Hamm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 12197

More information

At 0954 hours, the formation leader decided it was unwise to continue under the adverse weather conditions and a wide turn was executed at 21,000 feet and the formation headed for base. Suddenly four or five FW 150´s appeared out of the clouds to attack the group. The pilot, Capt. Friend, having lagged slightly on the homeward turn was immediately attacked by an FW 190 coming in on a steep dive at about 3 o´clock. The #3 engine was hit, caught fire and they left the formation apparently under control. Meanwhile two or three other attacks were made on him and the next time he was observed, fire was enveloping his aircraft along the fuselage to the tail. Seven parachutes were seen to leave the ship at this point. The only other information that his group had had on this crew is that 2nd Lt Frederick, Bombardier of the crew, was washed ashore, dead. This information was from the German Official Report, 17 July 1943 to the International Red Cross.

The entire crew of nine was killed. Eight of them are listed on the Walls of the Missing and only 2nd Lt Frederick is buried at Margraten.

Before crashing, the pilot released some of the bombs trying to safe the plane and its crew. Unfortunately five bombs hit the town Brielle, The Netherlands, killing 22 civilians.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Texas Birth Certificates / 1920 census / 1940 census, www.8thafhs.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com,Men and Women in the Armed Forces from McClellan County, Texas