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Personal info

Full name
LARA, Lupe H
Date of birth
1924
Age
unknown
Place of birth
California
Hometown
Los Angeles County, California

Military service

Service number
19176766
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
409th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
4 November 1944
Place of death
In the flat parts of the ocean
Jadebusen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 33 4

Immediate family

Members
Irma R. Lara (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-109815
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Misburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing (Operational)
MACR: 10359

More information

There was no eyewitness available who saw the aircraft leave the formation. No one will specifically claim seeing the aircraft over the target, but those crews in the same squadron ´believe´ he was in formation at bombs away position - at least they didn´t notice any vacancy. During release and after rally, nothing was seen of the aircraft, nor was there any radio communication with it.
The Liberator crashed near Vosslapp, in the flat parts of the ocean, 7 km N. of Wilhelmshaven on 4 November 1944, at about 1146 hours. Lupe was initially buried at the Garrison cemetery Wittmund/Ostfriesland, Grave 209 on 7 November 1944. 4 Crewmembers were found dead, one was taken prisoner and the rest presumably drowned.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten