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name
MABEN, Eugene Wesley Jr - Date of
birth
27 January 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
De Leon, Comanche County, Texas -
Hometown
Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-672641 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
358th Fighter Squadron,
355th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
18 October 1943 - Place of
death
In a meadow, behind the farmhouse at the Rue du Village 1
Croix-lez-Rouveroy, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 39 | 26 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Eugene W. Maben Sr. (father)
Beulah M. (Patton) Maben (mother)
Pauline Maben (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-22532 -
Data
Type: P-47D
Destination: Area around Gravelinnes-Brussels, Belgium
Mission: Ramrod
MACR: 1050
More information
Eugene Maben attended college and was a bank clerk.He joined the Air Corps in San Antonio, Texas, on 23 March 1942.
Near Cambrai, Lt Maben fell out of formation and when last seen, he was diving in a spin from 15,000 feet. There were no flak nor fighters around, and the reason remains unknown.
It was impossible to conduct any extended search on the ground or in the air. At the time of Lt Maben's disappearance, there were no radio contacts with either Operations or members of his flight, which might indicate that the pilot had run into trouble.
Wartime reports suggested he suffered an oxygen failure. His airplane dived into the soft clay near Croix-lez-Rouveroy. The engine was found at a depth of five meters. The parachute bag contained the parachute log on which the pilot's name was mentioned. The engine, nose section, an oleo leg and tail wheel assembly were recovered on 20 March 1999.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com , www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Texas U.S. Birth Certificates, http://users.telenet.be/airwareurope/en/bergingen/thunderbolt_croix_e.htm
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://users.telenet.be/airwareurope/en/bergingen/thunderbolt_croix_e.htm, Fort Worth Star Telegram - 19 November 1943