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name
STOKES, Harry Leroy - Date of
birth
22 January 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Emlenton, Clarion County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Rew, Foster Township, McKeen County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33273951 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
27 September 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, off the coast of Langeoog Island, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Van B. Stokes (father)
Katie B. Stokes (mother)
Emma Stokes (sister)
Howard Stokes (brother)
Evelyn Stokes (sister)
Eugene Stokes (brother)
Jean (Niver) Stokes (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29750 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Rebel's Revenge
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat base
MACR: 668
More information
T/Sgt Harry L. Stokes graduated from Bradford High School.He enlisted in Erie, Pennsylvania on 23 July 1942.
At approximately 1010 hours, 24,000 feet, just after leaving the target, the airplane was seen with an engine on fire. It left the formation and was seen to drop its bombs. It was last seen heading down in a dive.
Two crew members survived the crash: 2nd Lt Richard F. Hull and T/Sgt Edgar G. Fetty and were taken prisoner. The bodies of two other crew members, 2nd Lt John M. Perritt and 2nd Lt Frank O. Rolfe, washed ashore and were initially interred at Langeoog Cemetery Duenenfriedhof.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Pennsylvania Find a Grave Index / The Bradford Era
Photo source: FOHF, www.newspapers.com - The Bradford Era, www.ancestry.com - Bradford High School Yearbook 1940