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name
CRUMPLER, Thomas Pierce - Date of
birth
28 February 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Virginia -
Hometown
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33523007 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
733rd Bombardment Squadron,
453rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Lake Volkerak, 15 km northwest of Steenbergen, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Reuel Crumpler (father)
Virginia Crumpler (mother)
Reuel Crumpler (half-brother)
Helen Crumpler (half-sister)
Gordon Crumpler (brother)
Frances Crumpler (sister)
Orchel Crumpler (sister)
Allie D. Crumpler (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-28615 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Ginnie
Destination: Gotha, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 2895
More information
177 B-24s are dispatched but they are recalled when 100 miles (160 km) inland. Since they were over Germany, they sought targets of opportunity but strong winds drove the bombers over The Netherlands and their bombs hit Enschede, Arnhem, Nijmegen and Deventer.The aircraft was seen to be attacked hit by enemy aircraft and went down, probably by Hauptmann Herbert Huppertz of JG2. It hit the water and exploded. No parachutes were seen.
Only the remains of S/Sgt Richard C. Anderson were recovered. The other nine crew members are still missing in action and are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten Cemetery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Marc van den Berkmortel, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Priscilla Smith (niece)