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name
GRAHAM, Francis Robin - Date of
birth
17 August 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Georgia -
Hometown
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-746326 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
710th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
3 March 1944 - Place of
death
Wesermünde-Bremerhaven, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Francis R. Graham (father)
Edith H. (L'Engle) Graham (mother)
John L. Graham (brother)
Camillius L. Graham (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31112 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Paper Doll
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 2887
More information
1st Lt Francis R. Graham graduated from Boys' High School in 1942 and attended Georgia Evening College for one year. He was employed by the Fire Company Adjustment Bureau.He enlisted at Camp Blanding on 5 April 1941 and first served with the field artillery before joining the Air Corps.
The mission of the day was to bomb industrial areas in Berlin. Due to deteriorating weather and dense contrails, the formations had to abort the mission. They turned back for home and crossed another formation. The airplane collided head-on with airplane 42-38075 and crashed with the loss of all on board both planes.
At the time of his death, his two brothers were also serving.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone Application / Martin-Thomas Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Dennis and Gerda Hermsen, Eddie Dubiel, The Atlanta Constitution - 20 March 1944, John Graham (nephew)