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Submit- Full
name
JAIME, Manuel Martin - Date of
birth
3 July 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Laredo, Webb County, Texas -
Hometown
Laredo, Webb County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38460541 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
17 February 1945 - Place of
death
North Sea, near Ostend, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Pedro Jaime (father)
Juana M. (Flores) Jaime (mother)
Belia Jaime (sister)
Pedro Jaime (brother)
Patricia M. Jaime (sister)
Peter Jaime (brother)
Jesus R. Jaime (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8566 -
Data
Type: B-17G SH
Destination: Frankfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 12321
More information
Statement from 2nd Lt James E. Keelan (mickey operator) and only survivor (out of nine crew members):"A/C 566, returning from a mission on 17 February 1945, caught fire from an explosion in the nose over the North Sea, just off the coast of Ostend, Belgium, at less than 10,000 feet at approximately 1400 hours. Only slight battle damage had been inflicted. Two men, believed to be the radio operator and tail gunner, bailed out just off the coast of Ostend and were not observed by me after making their jump. I bailed out approximately 20 miles of the coast of Ostend. I was equipped with a Mae West preserver. I remained in the sea for about one hour and thirty minutes before being picked up. My chute opened within a few seconds before striking the water. A/C 566 crashed in the sea and to the best of my knowledge, remainder of the crew was in the ship. It is my opinion that they had little chance for survival. A/C 566 could not have been ditched."
All killed crew members are mentioned at the Walls of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle, except for Sgt. Francis Wishart, who is mentioned at the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspaperarchive.com - Laredo Times, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Peter Schouteten