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name
ALLEN, William H Jr - Date of
birth
14 September 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Oklahoma -
Hometown
Leedey, Dewey County, Oklahoma
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-757442 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
708th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 April 1944 - Place of
death
Destedt, 7 miles east of Braunschweig, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| O | 18 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William H. Allen (father)
Mary Z. Allen (mother)
Lucille G. Allen (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31144 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Rowdy Rebel
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 4247
More information
2nd Lt William H. Allen Jr. attended the School of Engineering at Oklahoma University .He enlisted in August 1943.
The airplane was attacked by enemy fighters and knocked out of formation. It was then attacked again and last seen diving into cloud cover, still under control, but engine #2 was smoking. Three parachutes were observed.
One crew member survived and was wounded. He was taken prisoner and transported to the hospital in Braunschweig. Nine crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the village cemetery of Destedt on 30 April 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans,, Peter Schouteten, Danny van der Groen, Arthur Jansen, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com - Don J
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Michael Beach, www.newspapers.com - The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 14 September 1944