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Personal info

Full name
FEATHERS, George Austin
Date of birth
14 January 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Queen, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Claysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33757494
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Turret Gunner
Unit
603rd Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
4 August 1944
Place of death
Baltic Sea, on Freesendorf beach, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 5 3

Immediate family

Members
Archie Feathers (father)
Christine Feathers (mother)
Clair Feathers (sister)
Ethel Feathers (sister)
Margaret Feathers (sister)
Walter Feathers (brother)
Dorothy Feathers (sister)
Archie Feathers (brother)
Freeman Feathers (brother)
Jack Feathers (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107186
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Peenemunde, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the V-2 rocket test site
MACR: 7708

More information

Statement of T/Sgt William F. Coombs, crew member of another airplane in the same formation:
"We had dropped our bombs on the target at Peenemunde, Germany and had just passed over the target when a flak battery started to group or box their shots on the high group. It was observed at least four large bursts completely covering the left wing of Lt Mac Arthur´s ship when suddenly the ship quivered, shook and belched forth in a large red flash. Instantly it fell from the formation falling to our right. I observed as it passed me that the right wing was still intact although the left was burning furiously and in several parts one of which the engine was still burning and continued to do so until it hit the water just south of the target area. I observed no chutes coming from the plane and also the plane was black which must have been caused by the terrific explosion. As the plane passed me it was in a terrific power dive and it looked as if the remaining engines were still functioning."

Seven crew members were killed in the crash, two died of wounds later.

Sgt Feathers drowned and his remains washed ashore at Freesendorf beach. He was initially buried at Wusterhusen cemetery on 15 August 1944.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card, Headstone and Interment Records, 1930 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten