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name
COLBURN, Finis Watkins - Date of
birth
23 May 1913 -
Age
30 - Place of
birth
Deadwood, Panola County, Texas -
Hometown
Panola County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38139967 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 December 1943 - Place of
death
Westerbeck, near Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| L | 15 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Samuel D. Colburn (father)
Mary E. (Watkins) Colburn (mother)
Samuel E. Colburn (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37851 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bremerhaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1719
More information
T/Sgt Finis W. Colburn graduated from Carthage High School and attended Spartan School of Aeronautics (Tulsa, Oklahoma) and was an accountant.He enlisted in Tyler, Texas on 17 June 1942.
The airplane was shot down by Hauptman Alfred Grislawski flying a FW-190 (J.G. 1) at 1146 hours at 27000 feet shortly after dropping their bombs on the target. With one engine on fire, the crippled B-17G began to lose altitude. The German fighters continued their attack and shot out the second engine on the left wing.
The left waist gunner, Benjamin Poweske, passed out due to lack of oxygen and was pushed out of the aircraft by the right waist gunner, Ralph Mantor, moments before the left wing separated from the aircraft causing a spin. Shortly afterward, the Radio Operator, Joseph Hennessey and Ralph were ejected when the aircraft exploded.
The remaining seven crew members were killed.
T/Sgt Colburn was initially buried at the cemetery of Army Post Wesermünde on 24 December 1943.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Family Trees
Photo source: Michel Beckers / www.findagrave.com - JO