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Personal info

Full name
EVANS, Rowland Hill
Date of birth
5 July 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Cameroon
Hometown
Baltimore City, Maryland

Military service

Service number
O-681361
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 February 1944
Place of death
3 km northwest of Hiddesen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 4 2

Immediate family

Members
Roland H. Evans (father)
Bertha C. Evans (mother)
Robert P. Evans (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-39895
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Bermondsey Battler
Destination: Aschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 2935

More information

The airplane was hit by fire of enemy aricraft during the first attack. The #2 and #3 engine caught fire and there was probably a small fire in the nose. The pilot put the airplane in what looked to be a controlled slip to the left and dove down, probably in an effort to put out the fires.

The entire crew of ten men was killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Hiddesen.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, http://www.americanairmuseum.com, www.ancestry.com - New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island) / 1940 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, www.findagrave.com - Hudson Louie, Baltimore City College 1933