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Personal info

Full name
BURNS, Samuel Grady
Date of birth
28 April 1911
Age
32
Place of birth
Troup County, Georgia
Hometown
East Macon, Bibb County, Georgia

Military service

Service number
34354949
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
549th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
15 August 1943
Place of death
North Sea, 10 miles off the coast of Dunkerque, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Virgil T. Burns (father)
Grace (Royal) Burns (mother)
Clara Burns (sister)
George Burns (brother)
Nell Burns (sister)
Mattie V. (Mossburg) Burns (wife)
Margaret Burns (daughter)
Betty J. Burns (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30598
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Vitry-en-Artois, France
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 267

More information

Along with airplane #42-30186, this airplane was hit by a fighter which flew through their formation. Both B-17s fell out of the formation. The pilot of #42-30186 said that he might have been able to keep up with the formation but, since he seriously doubted this possibility, he thought it better to drop out and to try to protect plane #42-30598. Both aircraft were jumped by fighters. Plane #42-30598 was also hit by flak. The two airplanes got about 10 miles off the coast near Dunkerque when #42-30498 prepared to ditch, since its #1 and #2 engines were out. About 300 feet above the water, the left wing came off, the airplane nosed into the water, and then it seemed to explode.

The entire crew of ten was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, Avondale Sun (Sylacauga, Alabama) - 4 October 1943, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card, 1920 US Census

Photo source: Avondale Sun - 4 October 1943