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name
PHILLIPS, Toby B Jr - Date of
birth
9 February 1912 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
Texas -
Hometown
Crawford, McLennan County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38114614 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
1 December 1943 - Place of
death
Buderich, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Toby B. Phillips (father)
Florence G. Phillips (mother)
Gordon Phillips (brother)
James Phillips (brother)
Sue (Howard) Phillips (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31111 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Four Aces - Pat Hand
Destination: Solingen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1659
More information
T/Sgt Toby B. Phillips Jr. graduated from Crawford High School and attended Baylor University.He enlisted at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on 27 July 1942 and trained in Texas, Idaho and Wyoming.
Crew members of other airplanes in the same group stated that they saw a burst of flak very close to the #3 engine at about two minutes before the I.P. The airplane continued its way, seemingly undisturbed by it. After bombs away, the bomb bay doors remained open and after about 30 seconds it slightly turn away form the formation.
It is believed the airplane crashed in the Rhine river near Buderich. The entire crew of ten men was killed and their remains were never recovered.
He is remembered at the Crawford Cemetery in Crawford, McLennan County, Texas.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Family Tree
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Dee Winter, Samantha Dieters, Men and Women in the Armed Forces from McClellan County, Texas