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Personal info

Full name
GRACE, George Harry
Date of birth
18 February 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey
Hometown
Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
O-707264
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
367th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 May 1944
Place of death
Near Schmolde, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 4 31

Immediate family

Members
Arthur B. Grace (father)
Julia N. (Mitchell) Grace (mother)
Arthur B. Grace, jr (brother)
Robert Grace (brother)
Nelson Grace (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37942
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Four Leaf Clover
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 4554

More information

2nd Lt George H. Grace graduated from Montclair High school and attended Newark School of Engineering.

The airplane collided with two other B-17s in the formation.

1st Lt Edward W. Magee 2nd Lt Lowell W. Burgess, flying in the same formation, flew near the three aircraft involved in the collision and agreed that the following was substantially what happend:
Lt Lambert (42-97239) was flying No. 6 position in the lead squadron, high composite group. Lt Jacobs was flying in No. 2 position of lead element low squadron, high composite group. Lt Schlecht (42-31969) was leader of the second element in low squadron in high composite group. Near Perleberg, Germany, at 10:42 hours with heavy persistent condensation trails making visibility difficult, Lt Lambert, apparently caught in a prop wash, was pitched around. Lt Lambert moved to his left trying to avoid the prop wash and his plane came down on top of Lt Jacobs airplane (42-37942). Lt Lambert's left wing panel flew off and his aircraft seemed to make a loop around the fuselage of Lt Jacobs' ship, cutting or knocking the tail completely off. The tail section gropped and hit the wing of Pilot Schlecht knocking him down as well.

The entire crew of ten men was killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Schmolde, Germany.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Montclair High School 1940